Anchor Point - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life during these months, driving powerful, long-period swell into the Moroccan coastline. Average wave heights hover around 2.0-2.2m with periods consistently above 12 seconds, providing the raw energy needed for Anchor Point to light up. However, a critical caveat remains: the vast majority of this swell arrives from the NW to NNW — not the ideal SW to W window. This means that while the ocean is pumping, the waves wrap into the bay with a less than optimal angle, often leading to a shiftier, less defined peak. The saving grace is the wind. From October through March, offshore flow from the NNE to ENE dominates, with ideal wind frequencies ranging from 55-64%. This combination of solid size, long period, and clean offshore winds still produces plenty of pumping, heavy sessions — especially when a storm track dips far enough south to generate a true SW swell. The best chance for perfection lies during the latter half of this season.

Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)

As the North Atlantic storm track begins to weaken or rebuild, the trade-offs become more pronounced. Swell heights drop to the 1.5-1.8m range and periods shorten to 9-11 seconds, resulting in good but not great conditions. The swell direction remains stubbornly slanted from the NW and NNW, with very little direct W or SW energy. Wind becomes a bigger variable: ideal offshore breezes blow only 43-54% of the time, and the increasing presence of onshore SW to WSW flow can ruin the wave face on many afternoons. These transitional months are best described as fun and rippable when the conditions align, but inconsistent. Early morning windows on an active swell can still deliver solid rippable waves, but don't expect the long, grinding walls of winter.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer brings a dramatic drop in both swell size and quality. The average wave height plateaus at a paltry 1.6m, and periods plummet to 7.8-8.4 seconds — short-period, choppy windswell. The swell direction becomes almost exclusively NNW (93.8% in July and August), which offers the worst possible alignment for Anchor Point's SW-facing bay. These waves break with little power and often close out in sections. Wind, however, is a mixed bag: offshore flow remains relatively frequent (45-58% ideal), but the small swell rarely justifies a paddle out unless you're a longboarder or beginner looking for small, fun-sized waves. The sea breeze often kicks up early, adding bump. This is the season for a well-deserved break or for exploring other spots along the coast that might better capture the NW energy.

January: Deep-Winter Power, Off-Angle Swell

The Atlantic is firing on all cylinders. Average swell height hits 2.2m with a beefy 13.3s period — that's solidly in the powerful, long-period category. Unfortunately, the swell direction is overwhelmingly from the NW (32.5%) and NNW (28.7%), with only a tiny fraction (1.5%) from the ideal W or WSW window. This means that while there is a ton of energy in the water, it's wrapping into the bay at a less than perfect angle, often producing a less predictable peak. The wind story is much better: offshore flow from N, NNE, NE, ENE, and E dominates, yielding an ideal wind 63% of the time. The prevailing E/ENE quadrant (21.7% combined) provides clean, glassy conditions early. When a true SW or W swell does manage to slip through — often courtesy of a deep low tracking near the Azores — expect pumping, firing waves with exceptional shape. But on average, be prepared to work for the best waves amidst the dominant NW swell.