Zoo (Bull Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks at the Zoo are looking more like a waiting game than a go-time situation. There’s swell on the way, no doubt about it, but the wind is going to be the story, and it’s not looking like a good one for a clean session.

We've got a window of small, clean surf right now, but don't get too excited. The real push of energy kicks in from the 20th, but it’s coming with cross-onshore winds that are going to chop it all up. We’re talking about a stretch from Thursday the 20th right through to the following week where the conditions are just going to be messy. That ESE wind is just relentless.

The swell does build though. By Saturday the 22nd, we’re looking at a solid 7ft and the wave energy is strong, hitting 986 in the morning. But the wind state is “cross-on” and the comment is “marginal,” which for us means it’s going to be a bumpy, walled-up mess. This setup looks far more interesting for the kite crew than for paddle surfers. The waves will be there, but the quality is gonna be trash.

There’s a big jump in energy around the 22nd, and it stays strong through the 26th. We even see 7ft on the 25th with a strong energy reading of 626. But it’s all coming with that same cross-on wind, so unless you’re desperate for some push, you’re not missing much. This period, from the 20th through the 27th, is essentially a write-off for clean waves. It's a solid week of poor to marginal surf.

Then, things finally calm down. On Thursday morning, the 27th, we get a break. The wind drops to glassy, with a 4ft swell out of the east-southeast. The energy is a moderate 266, and the report actually says “expect good surf conditions.” This is your standout window. It’s the only real pocket of clean surf in the whole run. It won't be huge, but it will be clean. That morning is the one to circle.

After that, it fades. The end of the month drops back to small, weak surf, under 3ft, with poor conditions. Then into September, the swell tries to pick up again, but it’s back to that dreaded cross-on wind and poor conditions. It looks like a rinse and repeat of what we just saw. That first week of September looks like another write-off.

So, the takeaway? The 27th of August morning is your best bet. Don’t hold your breath for the rest of it. The outlook is bleak for a while, but that one session looks worth waiting for.

Rusty.

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