The Rock-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s going on down at The Rock-Costa Azul for the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, we’ve got a real mixed bag coming our way. The first week is pretty sluggish, with a few windows of clean waves but nothing to write home about. The real standout action is tucked away in the second week, and it looks like it could be worth the wait, though we’ll have to keep an eye on it.

Starting off, Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th serve up waist-to-shoulder high swell, around 4ft, from the SSW with a solid 15-second period. That’s proper groundswell, which is great for this reef setup. The vibe is a bit average though, with a gentle cross-onshore wind making things a little lumpy in the mornings. The afternoons clean up nicely with a cross-offshore breeze. The water is a scorching 86°F, which is over 7°F warmer than usual – that’s super unusual for this time of year, so you can leave the wetsuit at home. There’s moderate wave energy (645) on Friday morning, building a touch through the weekend.

Sunday the 12th is the pick of the first week. Swell drops just a hair to 4ft from the SSW, but the afternoon sees a light cross-offshore wind and clean conditions. The wave energy is still moderate (608), and it’s the only session in this first stretch that gets a thumbs up for “very good surf conditions.”

After that, the swell fades. Monday the 13th has small 3ft waves with a great light offshore wind early, but it’s small. From Tuesday the 14th through to Thursday the 17th, it gets pretty lackluster, with weak 2-3ft swell and messy winds. There’s a bit of a pulse on Friday the 17th with 5ft from the south, but it’s accompanied by a strong onshore wind, making it choppy and poor. That trend continues into the weekend of the 18th with 5-6ft south swell and poor conditions – honestly, with that wind and chop, it’s looking more interesting for the kite crew than for paddle surfing.

Then things get interesting. Sunday the 19th afternoon brings a jump in energy. We’ve got 6ft from the SSE, but only a weak 8-second period. The wind goes cross-offshore and clean, and the wave energy is strong (1158). The forecast calls for excellent conditions for experienced surfers, so if you’re handy, keep that date in mind.

The real standout, and the one I’d circle on the calendar, is Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th. On Friday morning (24th), the swell hits 10ft from the SSW with a 13-second period. The wind goes glassy offshore, zero texture on the water. Yes, it’s big – over 8ft – so this is strictly for the experts. The wave energy is very strong (2601). The wind and tide are favorable, but the size is a caveat, even for this exposed reef. Saturday the 25th is also a beauty: 8ft from the SW, 12-second period, and glassy calm on a Saturday morning then light offshore in the arvo. That’s clean, powerful, and pumping.

Now, Thursday the 23rd is also 10ft, but the wind is messy. Stay locked on the 24th and 25th for the best chances. The following Monday and Tuesday (21st & 22nd) have some moderate swell but it’s plagued by onshore winds and rain, so not worth it.

To sum it up: the first week is a slow burn with a few small, clean windows. The second week builds toward a solid, powerful swell around the 24th and 25th, but it’s big and only for the experienced. Keep your fingers crossed that the long-range forecast holds.

Stay stoked.
Rusty.

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