Matanzas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here again. Let’s break down what’s happening at Matanzas in feet and miles per hour.

We’ve got a 16-day window, and it’s a bit of a slow burner. The first few days are a mixed bag.

The first look is on Friday, July 31st. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the WNW, but a fresh 19 mph wind from the NNE is gonna make it a battle. The combined energy is moderate (602), but it’s not a day to get excited about.

Moving into Saturday, August 1st, and Sunday, August 2nd, the swell builds. Saturday morning has 5ft from the SW with a 12-second period, and the energy is picking up (916). The wind is a gentle 9 mph from the NNE, keeping it clean. By Sunday morning, we’re looking at a solid 10ft from the W, which is a big one. The energy is strong (2000), and with a 9 mph NE wind, it’s still cross-off. Sunday afternoon drops to 8ft with a 6 mph N wind, but it’s a cross-shore. This is for the experienced crew only.

Now, the standout window. Monday, August 3rd is where it starts to shine. The morning session is a gem: 7ft from the W with an 11-second period, and the wind is a light 3 mph from the SE, making for clean, cross-off conditions. The wave energy is moderate (1083), and the water temp is normal at 56°. This is a top pick for the near future. The reef setup at Matanzas loves a long-period swell like this, giving you more power and longer waits between sets.

We’ve got a bit of a lull, but then Wednesday, August 5th is another standout. The morning is glassy—wind is 3 mph from the WNW, dead calm, and the swell is 5ft from the WSW with a 12-second period. The afternoon goes up to 6ft with a 15-second period, which is a very long groundswell, and the wind is a gentle 9 mph from the NNE, keeping it clean. The energy is strong (1564). This is the pick of the whole period. The longer period will make it a bit tricky at the beach breaks, but for a reef like Matanzas, it’s going to be firing.

From Thursday, August 6th, through to the end of the second week, the surf gets more inconsistent and the wind turns more cross-shore or cross-onshore. There’s a few moments of interest, like Thursday, August 13th morning, which is glassy with a 5ft swell from the SW, but the energy is lower (578) and the swell period is short (9 seconds). It’s clean, but not the power we saw earlier. The rest of the time you’re looking at lumpy cross-chop and choppy conditions, especially from the 7th to the 12th. The combined energy drops off, and the wind is mostly fresh to moderate, making it more of a kite session than a paddling one.

The second week’s best is definitely Friday, August 14th morning. 4ft from the WSW, 14-second period, and a light 6 mph NNE wind keeping it cross-off and clean. The energy is moderate (643). It’s a promising but less certain call this far out, so keep an eye on it.

Overall, the best days are hands down Monday, August 3rd and Wednesday, August 5th. They’ve got the biggest, cleanest swell with the best winds. The rest of the time, you’ll be fighting the wind or waiting for a window. Matanzas is a consistent reef, so it tends not to stay poor for long, but this forecast has a few hungry days.

Rusty, signing off.

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