Zicatela Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get down to it. The only spot worth talking about is Zicatela, and it’s a classic tale of a world-class sandbar that demands the right conditions. There’s a bit of a mixed bag to start, but the signs are there for a killer run of waves if you time it right.

The first real action hits Saturday morning, August 22nd. It’s not huge, around 3ft from the S, but the wind is glassy from the WNW, and the combined energy is solid (455). It’s clean, but the swell is a bit short period at 10 seconds, so it’ll be a little weak. For a Saturday morning paddle, it’s a nice way to start.

Sunday the 23rd shows a change. The swell drops to 2ft but swings to a better SW direction, and the period jumps to 18 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The morning has a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNW, making for clean conditions. Wave energy is strong (753). This is a classic Zicatela setup: long-period SW groundswell with offshore wind. It’s small, but it’ll be lined up and beautiful.

Monday the 24th is a real standout. Glassy calm winds in the morning, and the swell is still 2ft from the SW at 18 seconds. The energy is still high (567). This is the kind of morning where you can find a perfect, peeling left all to yourself. Bliss.

The rest of the week offers a few more glassy mornings, like Tuesday the 25th, Wednesday the 26th, and Thursday the 27th, but the swell drops to 2ft. It’s surfable, but you’ll be waiting for the sets. The real gear shift comes Friday the 28th. The morning glass is back, and the swell jumps to 4ft from the SW with a 16-second period. The energy is pumping (745). This is where it starts to get interesting.

Saturday the 29th of August sees the swell building to 5ft, but the wind turns onshore from the SE and there’s a risk of thunderstorms. It’s a bit messy, but the energy is very strong (1405). It’s a proper power day, but you’ll be fighting the wind. Not the best for a clean session.

Now, look ahead to the first week of September. The real highlight is shaping up for Friday the 4th of September. The morning is glassy, with a 5ft SW swell running at 17 seconds. The combined energy is massive (1818). This is a proper, powerful, long-period groundswell hitting Zicatela with perfect, clean conditions. This is the one you circle on the calendar. Saturday the 5th also looks excellent with 5ft and clean cross-offshore winds, though the energy is slightly lower. It’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it, but the ingredients are all there for a world-class session.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no need for a wetsuit, just a rashie or a spring suit.

Alright, it’s a long-range forecast, but Zicatela is the only break on the menu, and it’s got a couple of absolute crackers lined up. Get those morning sessions locked in, especially the 24th of August and the 4th of September. Stay patient through the windy bits. This is going to be a good run.

Rusty.

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