The Pass surf report
Long, peeling right point under Cape Byron. A longboard favourite on a south-east swell.
New region (beta): these break settings are still being checked by locals. Spot something off? Tell us.
Tomorrow at The Pass (Sun, 4 Oct) · not worth it
Nah.
Choppy onshore wind, chest-high waves. Rated for a beginner.
- Northerly wind at 8 kn. That's onshore here, so it'll be choppy and messy.
- Waves around chest high (0.8m faces), a good size for a beginner.
- Easterly swell at 7 seconds, an angle this spot likes.
- Low tide and dropping at 5am, but this spot prefers mid tide.
- At 0.8m and 7 seconds, The Pass is one for intermediate surfers and up today. Extremely crowded, with boats from the boat ramp. Mind the rocks.
Forecast checked Sat, 3 Oct, 9:12 pm Gold Coast time.
When is The Pass good?
- Best wind
- South-south-westerly (offshore) or none
- Best swell
- East-north-east to south-south-east
- Best tide
- Mid tide
- Suits
- Beginner+
Who it suits depends on the size: beginners up to about 0.8m, intermediates up to about 1.8m. Bigger than 1.8m it is for advanced surfers. Long-period groundswell hits harder, so it counts as bigger.
It is much smaller than the exposed beaches and needs a decent swell to get going. A south-south-westerly wind blows offshore here, so mornings before the sea breeze are usually cleanest. Get Frothin’ checks the wind, swell, tide and the live wave buoys every hour and tells you, in plain English, whether it's worth paddling out at The Pass for your level.
Watch out
Extremely crowded, with boats from the boat ramp. Mind the rocks.
Frequently asked
What are the best conditions for surfing The Pass?
The Pass is best with a south-south-westerly (offshore) wind or no wind, a east-north-east to south-south-east swell and mid tide. It is much smaller than the exposed beaches and needs a decent swell to get going.
What wind is offshore at The Pass?
A south-south-westerly wind (SSW) blows straight offshore at The Pass, holding the waves up and keeping them clean. Light winds are good too. Onshore winds make it choppy.
Is The Pass good for beginners?
It can be. The Pass suits beginners on small, clean days. On bigger days it is better left to more experienced surfers.
What should I watch out for at The Pass?
Extremely crowded, with boats from the boat ramp. Mind the rocks.
Nearby breaks
- Clarkes Beach 0.9 km
- Wategos 0.9 km
- Tallow Beach 3.3 km