Ixtapa Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking for Ixtapa Island. We’ve got a solid run of waves coming your way, so let’s get into it.

First off, the water is absolutely roasting – we’re talking 89°F and a solid 4°F warmer than usual for this time of year. It’s like surfing in a bath, so don’t expect to need a wetsuit.

The action kicks off Tuesday morning, the 8th of September. Ixtapa Island is a reef setup that’s inconsistent, but when it gets the right swell, it’s a gem. It’s exposed to the south, and that’s exactly where the energy is coming from. Tuesday morning brings a clean 3ft swell from the SSW with a period of 13 seconds, and a cross-offshore breeze from the north at 3 mph. The energy is moderate (544), and it’s going to be clean. A solid start.

Wednesday morning, the 9th, gets a bit tricky with a risk of thunderstorms and a cross-shore wind from the ESE at 6 mph. The swell is still 3ft from the SW, but the period has bumped up to 16 seconds now. That’s a longer period groundswell, which means more energy and better shape, but watch for the wind. The energy is moderate (603).

Now, Thursday morning, the 10th of September, is a standout. The swell is 4ft from the SW, period of 16 seconds, and the wind is a clean cross-offshore from the NNW at 6 mph. The energy is strong (876). This is a proper session that will have some push and shape. The afternoon turns into a choppy mess with onshore winds, so get your fill early.

Friday morning, the 11th of September, is another absolute cracker. We’ve got glassy conditions with the wind from the east at just 3 mph. The swell is 4ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, and the energy is strong (822). This is the best of the whole run. It’s going to be clean, punchy, and inviting. If you can only surf one session, this is it.

We’ve got a string of good mornings through the weekend and into the next week. Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th both offer clean 3ft and 2ft surf respectively, with cross-offshore winds, but the energy is moderate. Monday the 14th is a treat: glassy conditions and a 3ft swell from the SW with a very long 18-second period. Long period swells like this really suit the reefbreak here, giving you long, drawn-out walls.

The 15th of September (Tuesday) brings a bigger push, with a 4ft SSW swell and a 17-second period, plus a clean cross-offshore breeze. The energy is strong (966). This is a sneaky good session.

Then, Wednesday the 16th of September, the morning is the heavy hitter. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the SSW, 16-second period, and the energy is very strong (1107). This is getting into the expert-only territory with the size, but the wind is clean cross-offshore. This is a serious session for experienced surfers only.

Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th both have glassy mornings with 4ft and 3ft swells respectively. The 18th has a massive 20-second period, which is very long. This will be super clean but the sets will be widely spaced, and it’s best on the reef.

The final stretch from the 19th to the 23rd of September keeps the pattern going: clean mornings, mostly glassy or cross-offshore winds, with consistent SW swells around 4ft. The 23rd of September afternoon sees a spike in swell to 6ft from the SE, but with a shorter 13-second period and a cross-on wind, so it’s a bit of a mess.

The bottom line: The best on offer is Friday morning, the 11th of September. Glassy, 4ft, 15-second groundswell, strong energy. That’s the one. The second standout is Wednesday morning, the 16th of September, for the bigger, more powerful swell, but that’s one for the experienced crew only.

Stay safe out there, and remember, this reef is inconsistent, so when it’s on, it’s on. - Rusty

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