Playa de Gaztetape Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real. Rusty here, and I've been looking at what's coming down the pipe for your coast. It's a bit of a slow burn, but there's a firecracker at the end of it.

The next few days are a total write-off. We're talking flat, weak, and uninteresting. Through the 19th, don't even bother. The water's glassy, but there's nothing to ride. Just check the tide charts and call it a day.

We finally get a pulse on Thursday the 20th. It's a smaller NW groundswell, about 4ft, but with a period of 11 seconds, which tells us it's got some push. The morning is your window, with clean, glassy conditions and a light easterly wind. It's small, but it's clean and rideable. The energy is moderate, sitting right around 304.

Now, Friday the 21st is the one to get excited about. The swell builds to about 5ft from the NW, and the energy jumps well into the strong range. The morning is where you want to be, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the SW keeping things tidy. This is the standout for the first week. It's got some size and power, and it's clean. The 10-second period is perfect for a beach break. Don't be late for this one.

The weekend and early next week are a letdown. The swell drops and the wind gets wonky. There will be waves in the 3ft to 4ft range, but they'll be messy. There are a couple of clean mornings, like Saturday, but they're weak and gutless. It's a good time to check the forecast again.

We get another pulse of swell mid-week, but the wind is on it and it gets chopped up. There might be a clean window on Wednesday the 27th, but it's still only knee to waist high. Not worth the effort.

Okay, now for the long game. The forecast for the first of September is where things get serious. We've got a proper NW groundswell filling in, with energy readings that are off the charts. We're talking very strong. The swell is solid, around 5ft to 6ft, with a period of 11 to 12 seconds. This is a real event.

The standout is Tuesday afternoon, September 1st. We're looking at 6ft of clean, powerful NW swell. The winds are light and offshore, and the whole coast should be lined up. This is the biggest and best surf of the entire forecast period. The water is also running much warmer than normal for this time of year, which is always a bonus.

Wednesday the 2nd will still have plenty of size and power, around 5ft, and the morning should have good offshore winds. But the afternoon looks like it could get messy with thunderstorms and a strong cross-shore wind. So, the call is to be out there for Tuesday's afternoon session, and then get it early Wednesday before it gets blown out.

A word to the wise on Playa de Gaztetape: it's a consistent spot, but it's a fairly exposed beach. With a longer period swell, it can get a bit sectiony. It's not the most rippable wave, but it's got plenty of power. Also, once the swell is over 5ft, this break starts to get serious. It's not a beginner wave anymore. At that size, it's for the competent surfer. And don't be fooled, it's a popular spot, so expect some company in the water.

So there you have it. The next week is about waiting and picking off the scraps. Make the call for the 21st, and then keep your eyes on September 1st. It's a long way off, so don't book the time off just yet, but it could be a serious session.

Rusty.

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