The Rock-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the forecast noise and get straight to what matters for The Rock-Costa Azul. We’ve got a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, but there are definitely some windows where this place is going to light up.

The setup is a consistent, exposed reef break that loves a good south swell. Water temps are running a very unusual 7° warmer than normal for this time of year at 89°, so ditch the boots and maybe even the spring suit. The early window is a bit of a tease, with small, clean but gutless waves from the 18th through the 21st. We're talking knee-to-waist high stuff in the 2ft to 4ft range on a long-period SSW swell. The energy is weak to moderate, with readings like 604 and 300 on the combined energy scale. It's surfable, but you’ll be fighting for every ounce of push. The winds are mostly light and cross-offshore, which keeps the surface clean, but the lack of size and power is a real bummer.

We hit a proper lull from the 22nd through the 26th. The swell drops off, and the energy readings get pretty weak, down to 278 at one point. There are still waves, but it's a real struggle to find anything with any push. One morning on the 22nd is a total write-off with onshore ESE winds. It’s the kind of stretch where you’d be better off getting the gear ready or checking the cams, because the ocean isn’t giving us anything to work with.

Now, here’s where things start to get interesting. The 27th of August sees the swell start to refill, but the real standout is the 28th. By Friday afternoon, we've got a proper SSW groundswell building to 5ft with a 18-second period. The combined energy jumps to a strong 1465. This is the first day with some real muscle behind it. Cross-offshore winds from the WSW will keep the faces clean and lined up. This is an advanced reef, so this is going to be a proper session for those who know what they're doing. This is the best on offer in the whole window.

The weekend of the 29th and 30th keeps that energy pumping. It’s still solid, with 6ft SSW swell and energy readings around 1381 and 1279 on Saturday. However, the swell direction holds and the quality remains high. Sunday the 30th offers a moment of pure magic: light offshore winds and a glassy, clean 5ft SSW swell with an 835 energy reading. It's still a quality pick, but it’s not quite as powerful as Friday afternoon.

The wave heights tail off into the first days of September, dropping back to the 3ft range. There's a blip on the 2nd of September with a 7ft swell, but it's coming from the SE with a shorter 11-second period and is crossed up by moderate winds. That could get messy fast on a reef and is a pass for me. That's really a day for the experts only, and even then, the conditions will be tricky.

So, get after it on the 28th of August. That’s your day. The 30th is the backup call for a clean, glassy session with a little less size. The rest is just waiting for that swell to arrive.

Rusty, out.

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