Still here

I haven't forgotten the blog it just that February is the worst month for surf in Bunbury every year so it is hard to get motivated to write.

Its flat again and a beautiful day for everything ocean based but surfing.

I'm away from town and surf from Saturday for about 10 days so the blog will be empty (unless there is something newsworthy from the wider surfing world).

Fear not small readership I will be back and hopefully driving into a fun autumn.

0.20 @ 12

Visitors

A whale has had a leisurely day cruising just offshore from Marlston Hill accompanied by a pod of dolphins.

Just as you feel safe because its to shallow for a big shark to come in a frisking massive whale floats past !!!!!!

On the negative, no waves today and not looking much like it is going to improve. Before the fog cleared it looked like it might have been okay but wasn't.

Really south swell at 0.34 metres and 12 seconds.

One of those day

Sunny, offshore and bulk loads of swell locally. A front that didn't do much weather wise is pumping a solid swell at our corner.

I haven't had time for a good look but there does seem to be some waves between the close outs. The only real negative is that the tide is pretty low

Day 3 - 27th December 2010

Unbelievably flat. The harbour buoy was showing six centimetres and the Naturaliste buoy was only 0.6. I can't remember it ever being that flat. The wind was lighter with a touch of north in the east.

I had to work and drive to Augusta and back. It was flat everywhere, including the easy to get to swell magnets. The only waves I saw were in Augusta. They were onshore, dribbly and about gut height but after the last few weeks I was spewing I didn't have a mal with me.

Marges was dead flat. I have never been there when there have been no waves at all. The river mouth looked like Bunbury, Smith light Diamond pool and Yallingup suitable for water skiing only.

This afternoon the wind was a  little onshore southerly but it hasn't brought up the swell.

Whales

Finally able to shuffle things around so that I could get a very early surf in before work. Headed down the beach at first light to see that there was still a little swell and a light northerly blowing. There was a bit of a bubble off the surf club so I stopped for a look and it was a whale.

Watched it for a little while but still wanted a surf. BP was a disappointment. The swell was very inconsistent and the high tide was stopping it from hitting the banks. No matter how hard I tried I wasn't seeing anything surfable.

On the way home I decided to check the Clam. Now there were two whales. I was on the new lookout by myself but no more than five minutes later the carpark was packed with whale watchers.

Good news, bad news kind of day

Good  news - don't have to start work until 2
Bad news - workers are due at my house by seven so I can't sleep in

Good news - they haven't turned up by eight so I can go to the beach
Bad news - the wind is mostly onshore, the swell is to southerly to hit the BP reefs right

Good news - its a nice day for a ride on my bike
Bad news - as I come to the top of the hill overlooking BP a surfable set rolls through Juniors

Good news - wind has turned offshore and there is a new bigger straighter swell
Bad news - I'm on my bike so it will take me a while to get back

Good news - nothing much has changed
Bad news - it is breaking pretty close in and some of the rocks aren't very deep. Better keep an eye out and surf Juniors

Good news - first wave was a decent size, had a bit of power and a little wall
Bad news - bit hard to pick where to take off, its so shallow I'm touching the bottom as I paddle out

Bad news - its a bit inconsistent and I'm not very patient
Badder news - might just sneak a little further inside and catch a in-between one while I wait for a set

Good news - caught a little runner
Bad news - the rock that has no water over it right in front of me

Good news - I didn't hurt myself when I hit the reef
Bad news - I now have a twin fin but not in the right places

Good news - I now have time for the other things I needed to do before work
Bad news - there are still waves and I can't surf them

No more surf cam

The Bunbury surf-cam has been removed (with a pile of others like Denmark) from Coastalwatch. Apparently there is an issue with costs between Surf Lifesaving Clubs and Coastalwatch. Hopefully it will all be sorted out and the cameras (including a new cam at Binningup) will come back on line.

If the Bunbury surf-cam was working it would show you that it is dead flat !

Swell up, tide down

Swell has picked up a little but the full moon has left a really low tide. Its probably the lowest of the last few weeks, which means very, very low.

Down south

Stuck in Dunsborough since Monday arvo. Usually that would be a good thing but its Leavers week !

Tides still remain really low and there are some strange banks here and there. The wind has been howlling from the south/south west for the last two days and its a bit cold.

Inji has some small waves today, nothing that you would rave about but surfable. Smiths was less effected by the wind than other places and there was the odd wave here and there but it was crowded.

Looks like the weekend might warm up some maybe there will be something worth getting wet for back in Bunbury.

Should have voted for daylight saving

Today has been yet another day of crap surf. Strong onshores have persisted with a bit of rain here and there. However just as the last bit of light was disappearing tonight the wind has swung to a sideshore southerly and there were some ok looking waves, if it was bright enough to surf.

The weather forecast shows ESE winds first up tomorrow so there may just be the chance of a wobbly one early. The rest of the day is southerly so depending on how it hits there may be waves later as well.

The weekend looks promising with some offshores in the morning and onshore arvos. That's provided some of the swell hangs around.

Onshore but some swell

Been another blah Bunbury week for surf.

Currently there is a strong north wester blowing in and a bit of swell. If your desperate you could find some rides between the mush. Might just be that I'm hanging for a wave but there was the odd one off BP Groyne.

There is a bunch of body boarders out at the Wall. The waves are small and only just breaking but their enjoying themselves ! Maybe if the swell keeps rising the conditions might improve.

Tomorrow may be ok early. The wind is meant to be offshore but the swell is waning quickly.

You've probably missed it

Not great but there are a few little corners here and there for the desperate. However if you haven't already been out you probably won't get wet today. The wind is from the south and has started to crank up already. The clouds are moving in quick and there has already been a drop or two of rain.

Onshore

with a little swell but not worth a sickie.

Swell jump

The swell has jumped a little this afternoon and the wind was still light and onshore. Still no real decent waves and it doesn't look good for tomorrow either with a weak front coming in.

Still need that artificial reef. Don't forget to vote in the poll.

Flat and onshore

Go to work

Almost Summer

The signs of summer, boardies, bikinis and buoys are starting to appear. The beach is nice but windy and a few are trying to ignore the fact the water is still cold.

The surf club have dropped out their swimming buoys for the season and patrols have started.

So has the strong offshores and no swell. The swell predictions are for 3 metres but it must be going out rather than coming in. There is a fair bit if north in the wind and rain forecast for the next few days but not much.

No swell

The tide has finally started to turn a little but the swell has disappeared. It basically flat along the Bunbury coast.

Its cloudy and the offshore has been strong since about 10 pm last night. If you've got the time, a run down south will get you waves. Its one of those days where the less popular spots will be firing.

Low Tide

Nice weather but the tide is too low for surfing. Even the Bay is to shallow, making any swell into super fast zippers.

One guy out at BP Reef but he isn't that good. He is getting short rock hoppers but enjoying the conditions.

The onshore will probably meet the rising tide this afternoon.

Differently the Same

A month ago I was complaining that it was hard to write because each day was another of rain, decent size swells, onshores and closeouts.

Now it is just as hard to write because it is days of sun, small but ok sized swells, strong offshores and closeouts.

Nothing surfable on the Bunbury coast. The Bay has a few body boarders in the corner who are catching some small wedges in between avoiding the set on the head.

If only we had an artificial reef. Don't forget to vote in our artificial reef poll.

What do we need ?

Consider the last few day. Good winds, even tides and a nice clean swell. But was there any surf ? Sure there were waves, close outs, dumpers and fat dribblers in to a rip but no real, consistent surf.

Imagine if Bunbury had an artificial surfing reef (or better still three or four). Anyone who has surfed here for a while has watched swells roll in and smash pointlessly on the shore and dreamed of a decent reef.

There are a huge range of options. BP reef used to produce long lefts and with a bit of work may be able to again, with a right as well. Watch Hungry Hollow from the side on even a small day and you'll see what looks like an Indo dream. Or stand near where Fawlty Towers used to be on an offshore day and watch straight swell lines as far as the horizon, peaking way out but never breaking. There is plenty of beach south of Hungry Hollow with potential for a surfing reef.

Surfing reefs aren't just for surfers. With changes in sea level predicted, artificial reefs could have the benefit of preserving and stabilising beaches or protecting infrastructure, like Ocean Drive.

Bunbury is trying to attract tourists. If people are honest there isn't much here to keep visitors interested but it could be sold as a pivot point to the south west, with people heading off for day trips but returning here. A surfing reef would attract the older, richer surfer who wants the restaurants and nice hotels, without the costs of Margaret River. Head down south for the early and some lunch, back to Bunno for a nanna nap and the LAGO at the artificial reef. Next day, breakie at Cafe 140, day trip to Pemberton and the back for another wave with the friendly locals.

Want more reasons ? What about better fishing or shore based scuba diving. Perhaps marine studies for High School or improved beach safety for swimmers (no dumpers).

This isn't the first time artificial reefs have been floated in Bunbury. The Bunbury Surf Sports website has details of some of the early attempts. Perhaps it is time for us to start asking the question to council and government again !! Keep watching the blog for more information.

In the mean time there is a poll on the Blog site to gauge what type of wave we should be asking for. If your reading this in an RSS feed click on the title or here to get to the poll.