Mutriku Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty checking in.

We’ve got a rough start for the Mutriku area. This reef break is inconsistent, and for the first week and a half, there’s just nothing worth paddling out for. The combined swell energy peaks at a weak 46 (moderate wave energy), and the wave heights are tiny, under 2ft, with poor conditions flagged right through. Friday the 7th kicks off with glassy 2ft swell from the NNW, but the wave comment says it all – poor surf. That dead run of small, weak, and messy swell holds through the 16th of August. It’s a long, quiet stretch.

We finally get a flicker of life on Monday the 17th of August. The morning sees a bump up to 4ft from the NW, with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy climbs to 151 (moderate wave energy), and the wind goes cross-offshore from the W, keeping it clean. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” which is honest. The afternoon gets blown out by a cross-onshore breeze, so that morning window is the only real chance.

The best bet in the whole 16-day window, and it’s a long shot, lands on the 22nd of August. Water temps are averaging about 76°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. But the swell jumps to 5ft from the NW with a period of 11 seconds, and the combined energy hits 506 (strong to very strong wave energy). That’s proper groundswell energy. The catch is it’s a long-period swell, which can make Mutriku’s reef setup a bit tricky – it might wall up or get a bit straight. The wind is a cross-shore from the WNW at 9 mph, and the morning is flagged as “marginal surf forecast.” It’s not a classic, but it’s the only day with real power. The afternoon though gets hammered by 16 mph cross-shore winds and rain, so that morning window on the 22nd is the one to watch. It’s 10 days out, so keep an eye on the charts.

The rest of the window after the 17th sees a few 3ft to 4ft days, but the consistency is terrible and the winds are mostly cross or onshore. There’s a patch of cleaner mornings on the 18th and 19th with cross-off winds, but the swell is too small to get excited about.

Given the inconsistent nature of Mutriku and the long blank stretch, this is a tough call. The 22nd is the only standout, but it’s a gamble. I’d be keeping my board in the car for that morning, but not cancelling any plans for it.

Rusty.

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