Zippers-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The surf’s up, but it’s going to test your patience before it gets really good.

The Overall Picture

The start of this forecast period is all about a solid, long-period SW groundswell. It’s not huge, but it’s got some punch and should wrap into the coast. The first few days are a real tease, though. The ocean’s a mess with a mix of on and cross-off winds, and while the swell is there, it's not quite organized enough to make for epic waves. You'll see inconsistent, somewhat weak surf initially.

The good stuff, the real standout, comes mid-period. Around September 22, things clean right up with some seriously good morning glass and clean, lined-up walls on offer. That’s your window. The second week is super mellow, tiny surf for the most part, and you’ll be fighting more for a crumbly little wave than a head-high gem.

The Day-by-Day Breakdown

Wednesday, September 16: To kick things off, we’ve got a clean 4ft SW swell in the water. The morning is looking like a write-off with light ESE onshore winds making things a bit soft. But, the afternoon is where it's at. A light WSW cross-off breeze will groom those 4ft, 15-second period waves into something pretty clean. It’s not going to be huge, but the potential for a smooth, lined-up wall is there. The wave energy is moderate (727). This is where you want to be.

The next few days are a hard grind. Thursday, September 17 and Friday, September 18 keep the same size range, but the wind is messing things up. Mornings are cross-on, and the afternoons are either cross or cross-off with a bit of texture on the water. It's going to be a bit lumpy, and you'll be working hard for the average one. The period is long, though, so there's always hope if you find the right bank.

The Glassy Window

Now, look ahead to Monday, September 21. The morning is still a bit cross-on, but the afternoon clean-up is on. Then we hit the jackpot with Tuesday, September 22 and Wednesday, September 23. We’re still looking at that solid 4ft of SW groundswell, but now the winds go light and variable, even glassy at times. This is the period you want. Tuesday morning is straight-up glassy, and the afternoon is smooth as a lake. Wednesday morning is a bit of an onshore unknown, but Wednesday afternoon comes back to clean and glassy. These are the days where the break is going to show its true colors. The energy is moderate (820), and with those long intervals, it's going to be worth the paddle out.

Thursday, September 24: Another gem. The swell eases slightly to 3ft, but it’s still SW. The winds are dead glassy in the morning and stay light all day. This is a quality, albeit small, day. Perfect for a log or a fun single-fin. The wave energy has dropped back, but that means less push and more time to pick your line.

The Second Week Lull

After that, we hit the doldrums. From Friday, September 25 through the end of the month, the swell fades, and the winds turn onshore. We’ve got a run of small, weak surf with dropping energy and increasing SE wind. Monday, September 28 and Tuesday, September 29 look particularly bleak, with poor conditions, a lot of onshore wind, and pushing 2ft of disorganized chop. This setup looks like more of a kite-surfing kind of moment than a paddle surf. The last day of the forecast, Thursday, October 1, is still in the marginal-poor zone, so don't hold your breath. It's a long stretch of waiting for the next proper swell.

Zippers-Costa Azul is a consistent spot, which is good, but its strength is in the points and reefs, not in this kind of shifty, wind-affected swell. Given the long-period nature of this southwest groundswell, it should be working well, but the wind is going to be the deciding factor. Be patient, pick your windows, and don’t be afraid to skip the messy hours.

Rusty

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