Matanzas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's suss out what's on the cards for our local stretch over the next couple of weeks. We've got a long period to look at, and it's a bit of a mixed bag, but there are definitely some windows of clean surf to get excited about.

The main story is a series of WSW groundswells rolling in, with the water temp a pretty standard 56°F, so nothing out of the ordinary for this time of year. The first few days are a write-off really, with a moderate onshore wind messing up what little swell there is. We don't see anything worth paddling out for until Saturday morning, September 12th. The early session looks alright, with a clean 5ft of SW swell, light cross-off winds from the SSE, and the water is clean. But the tide or something keeps it from being a classic. It's a starter, not a standout.

Now, Sunday morning, September 13th, now we're talking. The swell drops a bit to 2ft, but it’s a long-period, powerful groundswell from the WSW with a period of 18 seconds. The combined energy is pumping (582), and with a slight air and cross-off wind, it’s going to be glassy and perfect. This is the kind of morning where you chew your breakfast fast to get in the water. Matanzas can handle this long period stuff nicely, and the sets will be clean and lined up.

The run of clean mornings continues, with Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th offering similar vibes: waist-to-chest high WSW swell, light offshore breezes, and clean conditions. These are solid, workable mornings for intermediate surfers. The surf is very consistent, so you won't be waiting around long between sets.

Things start to get a bit more ordinary by the afternoons and into the mid-week, with the wind swinging onshore and making things choppy. But keep an eye on Saturday morning, September 19th. We've got a bigger pulse of 6ft from the WSW, only 9-second period, but the wind is light and offshore from the SSE again, making for clean, punchy waves. The combined energy is a solid 605, so there's plenty of push. It's a bit bigger, so it'll be a step up for some, but for those comfortable in that size, it’s a great option.

After that, the forecast gets a bit wonky. The wind is mostly cross-shore or onshore, creating lumpy conditions. There's a bump of energy on the 18th afternoon (7ft at 12 seconds) but the onshore wind makes it less appealing for surfing, maybe more of a kite session. The window from around September 21st to the 26th is full of onshore winds and choppy surf, with not much to get excited about for a clean wave. There might be a few rideable mornings, but nothing that'll have you ringing in sick for work.

The best bet by far is Sunday morning, September 13th. It’s the cleanest, glassiest period of the whole forecast. The swell is small but mighty with that long period and the direction from the WSW is right in the pocket. Get it while it's good.
Rusty.

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