Mutriku Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks. I’ve got to be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. The only spot with any real character on the list is Mutriku, a sheltered reef break that likes a NW swell, but the timing is just off for a long while.

For the next 13 days, from August 9th right through to the morning of August 22nd, it’s basically a write-off. There’s hardly any energy in the water, with the combined swell energy struggling to get much past the 90s (around 90 to 123 in the moderate range for a brief moment on the 16th), and for most days, it’s sitting under 100 (weak energy). The waves are tiny – mostly 1 ft to 3 ft – and the period is short, around 6 to 10 seconds, so there’s no grunt or shape to speak of. You’ll be bobbing around on ripples. Even when the wind goes glassy or light offshore, the swell just isn’t there to make it worth paddling out. The water is sitting at about 75°F which is much warmer than average for this time of year, but that’s small comfort when you’re staring at flatness.

Then, on the morning of Saturday, August 22nd, things finally shift. We get a pulse of NW swell pushing a clean 5 ft with an 8-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 287 (moderate wave energy). The wind is dead calm – glassy conditions – so it’ll look clean. That is the one genuine standout in this whole 16-day window. Mutriku is a reef, and with that NW direction right from the optimum angle, it should line up nicely. But keep in mind, it’s an inconsistent spot, so it doesn’t always fire, and crowds are possible. That 5 ft is not too big for most, but it’s also not a beginner wave if the reef is shallow.

After that, the weekend goes downhill fast. By Saturday afternoon, the swell bumps up to 6 ft but the wind turns onshore and the energy hits 460 (strong), but the quality drops. Sunday and Monday bring rain showers and cross-onshore winds, making it messy again. The second week is really just that one morning window.

So, bottom line: if you have the patience to wait, the morning of the 22nd at Mutriku (Basque Country) is your only real shot. Otherwise, it’s a long, quiet stretch.

Rusty.

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