Ilha Do Pontal Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s talk about what’s cookin’ for Ilha Do Pontal over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, there’s not a lot to get excited about for the first week or so, but there is a proper standout waiting for us late in the game if you’ve got the patience.

Right now, through the rest of this week and into the next, the surf is mostly poor. We’re looking at small, weak waves with onshore winds and crummy conditions. The first real hint of something decent doesn’t show until Tuesday afternoon the 15th, when a light offshore wind from the SW cleans up a small 3ft S swell. The energy is moderate (272), but the waves will be small and ordinary—nothing to rush for. Wednesday the 16th stays small and offshore, but the swell is still just marginal. The combined energy sits around 337-372, so moderate, but the quality isn’t there.

Thursday the 17th sees a bump in size, with 6ft S swell in the morning, but the wind is cross-shore and the conditions aren’t great. By the afternoon, it jumps to 7ft S swell with a long 13-second period, and the energy climbs to 1493—strong stuff. But the wind goes cross-onshore and choppy, so it’s a miss for clean surfing. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddler’s dream.

From Friday the 18th through to the middle of the following week, it’s pretty grim. Strong onshore winds, lumpy seas, and poor surf. There’s a brief moment on Monday the 21st afternoon where the wind goes glassy, but the swell is short-period and weak—just 5ft from the ENE with a period of 6 seconds. Energy is 260, so it’s ordinary at best.

Now, the real standout comes Monday the 28th of September. This is the one to circle on the calendar. In the afternoon, we get a solid 7ft S swell with a 13-second period, producing strong energy (1723). The wind is light and cross-offshore from the SSE, keeping things clean. The water temp is about 72°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers—big enough to test you, but with good shape and clean faces. Just keep in mind, this spot is a reef break and inconsistent, so it doesn’t fire often. When it does, though, it can be magic. Crowds are possible, so get there early.

So, if you can wait, that Monday the 28th afternoon is your best bet. The rest is mostly a write-off until then.

Rusty.

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