Zicatela Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next couple of weeks at Zicatela. The pattern shaping up is a classic Southern Hemisphere pulse, with a few standout windows of clean, lined-up surf for the experienced crew. The water’s sitting at a balmy 87°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – you’ll feel that extra warmth straight away.

It starts off a bit slow. On Saturday the 18th, we’ve got a small 0.8 ft SSW swell creeping in with a 12-second period, but the onshore breeze and marginal conditions mean it’s not worth paddling out for. A day to kick back and watch the horizon.

Sunday the 19th is where it gets interesting. The morning session at Zicatela offers a clean 0.9 ft SSW swell, long 17-second period, and glassy wind – zero wind, flat as a tack. That’s a solid pick for early. The energy’s moderate at 797, and the wave direction matches the optimum for this break. It’s a good, clean start. Crowds are possible here because it’s a known spot, but with these quality conditions early, you’ll want to be in the water.

Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st follow a similar script – mornings are glassy with 1.1 ft SW swells and 15-16 second periods. The combined energy climbs to 910 and then 790, still moderate but building nicely. These are more excellent morning windows, though afternoons get wind-affected.

The real standouts come later. Saturday the 25th morning brings a 0.9 ft SSW swell with a 21-second period – that’s proper long-period groundswell – and the combined energy hits 1286 (strong). Glassy wind, excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is the best quality we’ll see all week. Sunday the 26th morning pushes 1.4 ft SW swell, 18 seconds, glassy, with energy at 1592. That’s big and clean, but over 5 ft, so beginners should sit it out.

Monday the 27th through Wednesday the 29th mornings all hold 1.7 ft to 1.9 ft SSW swells, with energy well into the 1600-2200 range – strong to very strong wave energy here. Wind stays calm or light for the early sessions, so these are clean, powerful, expert-only conditions. By the 28th, the swell’s 1.9 ft and the period’s 17 seconds – that’s heavy, ground-swell freight trains. Get your confidence up before paddling out.

After that, it backs off. Friday the 31st and into August see the swell drop to around 0.6 ft to 0.9 ft, with moderate energy. The mornings are still glassy, so you might snag a knee-high fun wave, but it’s not going to make the news. Saturday the 1st of August and Sunday the 2nd hold tiny, glassy conditions – good for a longboard and a sunrise.

Summing it up: the best on offer is the Saturday the 25th morning session for that rare, glassy, long-period SSW swell at Zicatela, closely followed by Sunday the 26th morning. Both are excellent, clean, and powerful. After the 28th, the swell fades and consistency drops off into the second week. Keep an eye on the forecast, but these are the windows to book in for.

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