Plentzia Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’m looking at a pretty bleak picture coming up for our local stretch. Plentzia’s got the shelter of the bay, but that’s a double-edged sword—it keeps most swell out too. The next fortnight is going to be frustrating, with a long stretch of tiny, poor-quality surf. There’s a single bit of promise right at the end, but we have to wait for it.

For the next nine days straight, from July 29th through to August 6th, it’s basically flat or next to it. The swell height never cracks 3ft, and most days we’re looking at skimpy waves around 0.7ft to 2ft from the NW or NNW. The energy readings are weak, mostly in the low double digits, and you’d be lucky to find anything rideable. Winds are often onshore or cross-onshore, and though we get a couple of glassy mornings—like Friday morning July 31st and Tuesday morning August 4th—the waves are just too small and weak to bother with. Water temp is sitting at 73°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but it’s not gonna help the surf.

Then on Friday morning, August 7th, things finally start moving. Swell bumps up to 4ft from the WNW, with an 8-second period and a combined energy reading of 241—that’s moderate wave energy, a big jump from the doldrums. The wind swings to a cross-offshore from the east at 6 mph, which gives us clean conditions. This is where Plentzia’s sheltered nature works against it; the wave comment calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and with a 1.0 out of 10, it’s not exactly lighting the world on fire. The break itself is inconsistent at the best of times, and the swell direction is WNW, while the optimum is WNW—so it’s on target, at least. This is the only window worth moving for, but keep expectations low. It’s a Friday, and crowds are possible now and then, so you might have company.

After that, Saturday August 8th morning holds 3ft from the WNW with glassy wind from the NE at 3 mph, energy at 117 (weak to moderate), but again… “very ordinary conditions.” The afternoon gets messy with onshore NW wind at 12 mph and a bigger 4ft NW groundswell at a 10-second period, energy jumping to 387—stronger, but the onshore wind ruins it. Sunday August 9th and Monday August 10th have similar stories: a bit of size, some glassy windows (like Monday morning with a clean 3ft, 11-second period from the NNW, energy at 239), but the quality never lifts above ordinary. The 11-second period groundswell on Monday morning gives longer gaps between sets, which is fine for a point break, but Plentzia’s more of a beach setup, so that longer period might make things a bit too straight and crumbly.

The standout option, if you can call it that, is Friday morning August 7th. It’s the first real pulse with clean, cross-offshore wind and swell size just big enough for a beginner-friendly wave (4ft is right at the edge for beginners, but okay if you’re steady). Saturday morning August 8th is also worth a look for the clean glassy start, though smaller.

From August 11th onward, it fades back to tiny, onshore junk—2ft and smaller, poor conditions, and strong winds. That’s it. A grim stretch, but forecasts can change, and Plentzia has been known to surprise.

Rusty

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