Ixtapa Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the horizon.

We’ve got a run of surf lining up for the Ixtapa Island area that’s got some real potential, even if we have to be patient with the afternoons. The mornings are where it's at.

We kick things off on Thursday, the 10th. The water’s sitting at 89°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. The waves are a clean 4ft on a solid 16-second SW groundswell. The energy is moderate, coming in at 910, and with a light north breeze it’s looking crisp. This is a good start, a proper warm-up.

The mornings are going to be your friend for this whole stretch. Friday the 11th is glassy, not a breath of wind, with the swell holding at 4ft from the SSW. The energy is moderate at 816. This is the kind of clean, lined-up surf that makes you want to stay out till your arms fall off. Saturday and Sunday mornings stay clean with cross-off winds, but the swell eases back a bit. We’re looking at 3ft on Saturday and 2ft on Sunday, with the period dropping to 13-14 seconds. Still fun, but you’ll be working for it.

Then we get a bit of a pulse again. Monday the 14th brings back a glassy 3ft, but the period jumps to 18 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which can make the wave a bit too straight at a beach break, but at a spot like Ixtapa Island, it should reel off nicely. The energy is moderate at 593.

Now, here’s where I get a little excited. Tuesday the 15th through Thursday the 17th, the swell builds again, holding around 4-4ft from the SSW. The winds are glassy or slight offshore each morning. Tuesday’s energy is strong at 1023, which is a solid bump of power. These will be the best days of this first week, no doubt. The consistency is a bit unreliable at this spot, so you have to pick your moments, but when those sets roll through on these mornings, it’s going to be well worth it.

The afternoons are, for the most part, a write-off. The wind swings onshore and chops things up. Keep your sessions to the dawn patrol.

Looking further out, into the second week, the pattern holds. We've got a similar rhythm of clean mornings and choppy afternoons. Friday the 18th sees the period stretch out to 20 seconds, and the swell is a clean 3ft. This is prime stuff for a reef setup; the long period will really put some push behind it. The energy is a solid 904.

Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st are looking like the real standouts of the entire window. The swell is 4ft to 4ft, still from the SW, but the energy jumps up to 1071 and 1069 respectively, which is strong. And the mornings are glassy with light airs. These are the sessions for the experienced surfers, the ones looking for a bit more grunt. This is the pick of the bunch right here.

The swell fades a bit mid-week, dropping to 4ft by the 24th, but Thursday the 25th has one last trick. The swell drops to 2ft, but the period is a massive 21 seconds. That’s some deep ocean energy, so even though it’s smaller, the quality will be there on the right tide. The energy is still 910, so there’s push in the water.

So, to wrap it up: Saturday and Sunday the 20th and 21st are your bang-for-your-buck mornings and look to be the best on offer. Just get out there early, before the seabreeze kicks up. The afternoons are for the beach, not the lineup.

Rusty, signing off.

Read more