Anglet - La Petite Madrague Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, it’s a bit of a slow start. The waves are tiny and the wind is messy, so we’re looking at a lot of flat, choppy days before anything really gets going. We’ve got a solid stretch of poor conditions from the 10th right through to the 24th of August, with only a few brief windows of clean but very small surf. The water temperature is sitting at 75°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s a nice little bonus when you’re sitting out there waiting for a set.

The first real standout doesn’t show up until Tuesday the 25th of August. That morning, Anglet – La Petite Madrague is looking like the pick of the entire forecast. The swell jumps to 5ft from the WNW, with a period of 11 seconds, giving it some decent grunt. The combined energy is a solid 540, which is a nice moderate energy level. What really makes it special is the offshore wind from the ENE, only 3 mph, so it’s going to be clean and glassy. That’s a proper session, and while it’s a beginner-friendly break, that size is still very manageable for a broader crew. The swell direction is a good match for the spot’s optimum. The crowds are *sometimes* an issue here, so get in early.

The afternoon of the 25th sees a bit more size – 6ft from the WNW – but the wind shifts to a cross-shore breeze from the north at 9 mph, which will put a bit of chop on the face. The wave energy is strong at 729, but it’s more of a marginal session for the average surfer. That morning is the real winner.

Before that, there’s a brief moment on the morning of the 18th of August with a clean 3ft from the NW and offshore ESE wind, but it’s small and nothing to write home about. The 22nd and 23rd bring some longer-period swell from the NW (12 seconds and 11 seconds), but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, so it’s not going to be pretty. That long period groundswell is better suited to a point or reef, and La Petite Madrague is a beach/jetty setup, so it’ll likely break a bit straight and sloppy.

Overall, if you’ve got patience, the 25th of August morning is the one to circle. The rest of the run is mostly a waiting game. Keep an eye on the forecast, though – it’s a changeable time of year.

Rusty.

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