Shipwrecks Bay-Peaks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The only game in town for the next 16 days is Shipwrecks Bay-Peaks, a heavy reef setup that’s strictly for the experienced crew. This place is fairly consistent and has a sheltered SW exposure, so it needs the right swell direction to fire – and it’s about to get it, big time. The water is sitting at 59°F which is about average for this time of year, so nothing crazy on that front.

The first two days of the outlook are a bit of a mixed bag. Saturday the 5th rolls in with a solid 12 ft SW swell and a 14-second period, generating a massive pulse of wave energy (5532). It’s clean with a light breeze, cross-offshore, and the word is *excellent* – but only for experienced surfers. That’s the pick of the first few days. Sunday the 6th starts okay on the morning session but the wind swings onshore and picks up, and by afternoon it’s garbage. Monday the 7th is a write-off with strong cross-onshore winds and rain. Tuesday the 8th sees a bit of a drop, but the swell is still a solid 10-13 ft, and the wind goes back to cross-off. It’s clean and punchy, but it’s not a standout.

The real show starts to build on Thursday the 11th of September. That morning, the swell jumps to a massive 21 ft from the SW, with a 19-second period – that’s an absolute beast of a groundswell, carrying incredibly strong energy (29004). The wind is fresh and cross-off, so the face is clean. But at 21 ft, this is massive, and the forecast even says it’s too big for this break. This is expert-only territory, and even then, the power is intimidating. Friday the 12th and Saturday the 13th stay in the 18 ft to 20 ft range, still with clean cross-off winds. The combined energy values are off the charts, dropping from 30312 to 18386. This is a prolonged, serious swell event.

The standout pick, if you’ve got the nerve, is Sunday the 13th. The swell is 20 ft, 16-second period, strong energy (17608), and the wind is a moderate cross-off. It’s a long-period groundswell, so at a reef break like Shipwrecks, it’ll hold its shape and offer heavy, barreling lines. The crowd profile says "rare", so you might have it to yourself, but for a spot this size, that’s both a blessing and a little spooky.

After that, the swell slowly drops through the next week. Monday the 14th is still 16 ft, Tuesday the 15th is down to 10 ft, and by Wednesday the 16th it’s 7 ft but with a messy cross-shore wind. There’s a bit of a lull in quality, but then Thursday the 17th afternoon picks up again with a clean 13 ft SW swell and a 12-second period, with gentle offshore winds. That’s a nice, more manageable size.

Then, the second week wraps up with another absolute monster. Friday the 18th of September shows a 26 ft SW swell with a 17-second period, and the wind is light and offshore. The combined energy is a staggering 36835. Again, the forecast says it’s too big for the break. This is a once-in-a-while type of swell for a sheltered spot. Saturday the 19th morning is still a beast at 18 ft, but the real gem is Sunday the 20th. That morning, the wind goes glassy, the swell is 20 ft from the SW, and the energy is 12439. The description says "exceptional" for experts. That is the cleanest, most perfect window of the whole run. The afternoon stays clean too. If you’re an expert, that Sunday the 20th is the day to circle, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it.

Honestly, this is a solid run for the big-wave hunters. Beginners, stay well clear – this spot is relentless and dangerous when it’s over 8 ft. The only real gap is a few days of poor wind early on, but the swell never really stops pumping after the 11th.

Rusty out.

Read more