Zoo (Bull Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got one spot on the radar, Zoo (Bull Bay), and it’s a reef setup. The honest truth is, the next 16 days are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle session. From the get-go, right through until about the 24th of July, you’re looking at a persistent cross-onshore wind situation. That’s the nail in the coffin for quality. The swell is there, don’t get me wrong, with a solid ESE groundswell pushing through, but with that wind, it’s just chop city.

The water temperature is sitting at 85°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a steamer.

The first few days, from the 9th to the 13th, we’ve got moderate to strong wave energy (between 928 and 1778), with swell heights climbing from 8 ft up to 10 ft. That’s solid, but the wind is ripping from the east at 12 to 15 mph, blowing straight across the wave face. The period is a decent 9 to 10 seconds, so there’s some push, but it’s messy. For the experienced crew, those 10 ft days on the 10th and 11th might be doable, but it’s going to be a battle. The combined energy is strong (over 1500), but it’s all wasted energy in the chop.

The middle of the window, from the 14th to the 18th, sees a slight dip in swell size, down to the 6 ft to 8 ft range, but the wind doesn’t let up. The energy drops to moderate levels (443 to 933), and the period slips to 8 seconds on some days, making it weaker and more disorganized. It’s still a cross-onshore mess.

The one small glimmer of hope comes on the 19th of July. On Sunday morning, the wind finally swings around to a light offshore from the southeast, blowing at just 6 mph. The swell is 6 ft from the ESE with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is moderate (563). This is the only window that looks *possible* for a clean-ish wave. The score is still low, meaning it’s marginal, but it’s the best of a bad bunch. The period is short, so it won’t be a classic groundswell, but with that light offshore, it’ll be a huge improvement on the rest of the week. After that, it’s back to the same old cross-onshore story right through to the 24th.

So, the standout? It’s got to be Sunday morning, the 19th of July. The wind finally cooperates, giving you a chance at a clean face on that 6 ft ESE swell. It’s a reef break, so it’ll handle the swell direction (optimum is SSE, but ESE is close enough to work). The crowds are marked as “sometimes,” so you might have a few others with the same idea. Don’t expect a classic, but it’s the only window where you won’t be fighting the wind the whole time.

For the rest of the run, especially with those stronger swells and poor quality, this setup looks more interesting for the kite crew than us paddle surfers. The wind is consistent and strong, and the waves are choppy, which is exactly what they want.

Alright, I’m not going to sugarcoat it – it’s a rough 16 days. But take a look at that Sunday morning; it’s your best shot. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because things can change, but right now, don’t get your hopes up.

Rusty.

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