The Merewether surfer lost to Portugal's Frederico Morais, who he has trained alongside in Newcastle with Adam Trypas, on Sunday night (AEST) 11.67 to 6.13 after winning his round-four heat the previous day.

Laying down power turns, Baker (14.66) beat American Jake Marshall (13.76) and Brazilian Victor Bernardo (10.36) in wild, six-foot swell.

"It's pretty crazy out there," Baker said after his win.

"I was a little bit nervous with my ankle cause I haven't really surfed a wave over two foot let alone six-foot bumpy, but I got a wave on the board and just kept moving from there. My ankle didn't feel great but I'll take it."

Baker earned 1550 points, which is his best return on the qualifying series this year.

Meanwhile, clubmate Ryan Callinan finished 25^th at the Freshwater Pro in California to drop a spot to 12^th on the championship tour.

Callinan's 11.93 was not enough to gain a bonus run at the wave pool, leaving him well outside the top eight finalists.

He was equal 11^th on the championship tour before the event, which is the eighth of 11.