Anna Maria Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. No beating around the bush – this is a tough stretch for the Anna Maria Island area. We’ve got a solid 16-day window to look at, but honestly, it starts with a whole lot of nothing and doesn't really get going.

The first record we see is for Friday, September 11th, and that's a total dud with zero energy. In fact, the first flicker of any wave action doesn't show up until Saturday afternoon, September 12th, with a tiny 0.7ft south swell – but that’s more of a ripple than a wave. You're looking at a real dry spell here. For the majority of the forecast, from September 11th all the way through to the morning of September 19th, the combined wave energy is a flat zero. That’s nearly eight days with absolutely no swell to speak of. It’s going to be a tough time to find a wave.

Then, finally, on Saturday morning, September 19th, we see something worth mentioning. Anna Maria Island picks up a tiny 0.7ft swell from the south, with a period of 4 seconds. That is a weak, short-period windswell with combined energy of just 1 (weak energy). The wind is offshore from the ESE at 12 mph, which will keep things clean. For a beginner spot that is inconsistent, this might be a session for the absolute longboard and a lot of patience. The water temperature is about 88°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – it’s like bathwater out there, so you won’t need a wetsuit.

From the afternoon of the 19th, it goes quiet again until we see a few token waves pop up in the last few days of the month. On Wednesday, September 23rd, there's a 0.3ft northwest swell in the morning, and then on Thursday, September 25th, a 0.3ft south swell with a 10-second period appears in the afternoon. That longer period (groundswell potential) gives it a bit more shape, but at 0.3ft there's barely enough water to push in. We see another similar one on Friday, September 25th, in the afternoon with a 6-second period and combined energy of 3 (weak energy), and the wind goes glassy – that's the best window you'll get for a clean, if tiny, wave.

The highlight for the whole 16 days? It's got to be that Friday afternoon, September 25th, with the 0.7ft south swell and glassy conditions. It's not a stand-out for size or power – it's tiny – but with the wind dropping to glassy, it will be the cleanest the ocean looks all period. For a break that is exposed to a WSW optimum swell direction, this south swell isn't ideal, but beggars can't be choosers. Don't get your hopes up for anything rideable on a proper board; this is strictly a foiling or small bodyboard sort of deal.

Overall, this is a blank run. It’s not unusual for the area to have these quiet spells in the post-summer lull. The only real note is that the swell energy is either non-existent or weak, so you’re chasing micro-waves. The forecast can always change, but for now, leave the surfboards in the car and maybe bring a kite if the wind picks up, because on the days with a 12-18 mph cross-shore, it’s going to look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

– Rusty

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