Zicatela Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Zicatela. It’s a bit of a slow build, but if you’re patient, there’s some serious firepower coming.

We’re looking at a classic Zicatela pattern. The first few days are small and clean, but you’ll be scratching for a good one. Thursday the 16th is a write-off with marginal conditions and a weak 3ft SSW swell. Not worth paddling out.

Friday the 17th morning is a tease. The swell is a tiny 2ft from the SSW, but holy smokes, the wind is glassy, dead calm. It’s clean as a whistle, but you’ll be on a longboard trying to catch anything. The combined energy is weak (329). Forget the afternoon, it goes onshore and poor.

Saturday the 18th morning is another glassy morning, with a 2ft SW swell. The period is a long 18 seconds, which is beautiful for a point break, but at a beach break like Zicatela, that long period might make it break a bit too straight. Still, it’s the best of a small lot.

Now, Sunday the 19th morning is where it starts to get interesting. We’ve got a 3ft SW swell, dead calm wind, and the energy is jumping up to 865 (moderate). The forecast says “very good surf conditions.” That’s your first real window.

Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st mornings are very similar. Calm, glassy conditions with 4ft SW swell. The energy is building (798 and 708). These are solid, clean, intermediate waves. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 87°, so you won’t need a thick suit.

The standout for the first week, though, has to be Friday the 24th morning. The wind is glassy, the swell is 3ft from the SW, but the period is an incredible 24 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell. The energy is 987 (moderate to strong). That long period will have some serious push and will be best on the peak, but expect it to be a bit fat and straight. Still, this is the best quality of the first week.

But hold onto your board, because the real show starts the following week. Saturday the 25th morning is a bombshell. The swell jumps to 4ft from the SW, period 21 seconds, and the combined energy rockets to 1402 (strong). The wind is glassy. The forecast calls it “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is the big one on the horizon. That 4ft with that energy and period will feel much bigger.

Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th mornings are also excellent, with 5ft and 6ft SW swells respectively, and energy readings of 1654 and 2456. This is strong, powerful surf. The wind is light and glassy. This is expert territory. The 6ft on Monday the 27th is the biggest, cleanest swell of the entire outlook. The combined energy (2456) is a beast. Be aware, the afternoons get messy with risk of thunderstorms and onshore wind.

The end of the run, from the 30th July into the 31st, shows a drop in quality and a shift to a shorter period, wind-affected S swell. The 31st July morning has a 7ft S swell with a short 9-second period and cross-offshore wind, which will be clean but very crumbly and fat. It’s an option for experts, but not the standout.

So, to sum it up: The best on offer is hands down Monday the 27th July morning. That 6ft SW groundswell with glassy wind and massive energy (2456) is a Zicatela classic. The Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th mornings are also top-tier. The first week is for small-wave groveling, but the second week is for the heavy hitters. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so get out early. This is a world-class wave, so treat it with respect.

Rusty.

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