Zicatela Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a decent run of surf on the horizon for Zicatela, but it’s not going to be a barnburner from the get-go. The first few days are a bit of a tease, with some small, glassy windows but the energy is just not there. Hold tight, because the real action kicks in around the middle of the month.

The water is sitting at a warm 88°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The early part of the week, starting Tuesday the 11th, is a no-go. The swell is weak, with combined energy sitting at 774 (moderate), and the wind is on it, making for a messy, marginal call. Not worth paddling out.

Wednesday morning the 12th is a tease. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, and the swell is a clean 3ft out of the SW with a nice long period of 16 seconds. It’s a groundswell. The energy is moderate (572), but the wave comment says it’s "very good." It’ll be smooth, but don’t expect big walls. The afternoon on Wednesday gets cross-on and the size drops, so that morning window is the only one.

Thursday morning the 13th repeats the script: glassy, light wind, 3ft SW swell, moderate energy (483). It’s clean, but the size is still on the smaller side. The afternoon picks up a touch to 3ft, but the wind goes onshore, killing the quality.

Friday morning the 14th is where it starts to get interesting. The swell bumps up to 4ft from the SW, period at 18 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 1107 (strong). Glassy, calm wind. The wave comment calls it "excellent for experienced surfers." That’s a standout session. The afternoon gets a risk of thunderstorms and onshore wind, but the energy is even higher at 1307. The morning is the pick.

Saturday the 15th is the peak of the run. The swell holds at 5ft, SW, with a 16-second period. The combined energy is strong at 1165. Glassy, calm wind in the morning. This is another standout: "excellent for experienced surfers." The afternoon, the wind goes onshore, so don’t sleep on that morning session. At 5ft, it’s pushing the limit for beginners, but for intermediates and up, it’s prime.

Sunday the 16th drops back a touch. The morning is glassy, with 4ft SW swell and a 15-second period. Energy is moderate (727). Clean, good shape, but not as powerful as the day before. The afternoon goes onshore again.

The following week is a bit more of a mixed bag but still has windows. Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th both have glassy mornings with 4ft SW swell, moderate energy, and good conditions. The swell is consistent, but the size is dialed back. The standout in the second week is Wednesday the 26th. The morning brings a glassy start with 4ft SW swell, but the combined energy is a strong 1290. The wave comment says "excellent for experienced surfers." That’s a promising, long-range call. The direction is a bit off from the optimum SSW, but the energy is there.

The gap from the 20th to the 25th is a bit of a lull. The mornings are glassy but the swell drops to 3ft – 3ft, and the energy is weak to moderate. You’ll get clean, small waves, but nothing to get excited about. The afternoon wind is a problem on most days.

The best bets are Saturday morning the 15th, and Friday morning the 14th. The Saturday morning is the peak of the first wave, with the best size, best energy, and glassy wind. The Friday morning is a close second. For the second week, keep an eye on Wednesday the 26th – it’s got the juice, but it’s a long way off, so don’t book a flight just yet.

Rusty.

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