Canoes - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Pacific stirs to life as autumn deepens, and Canoes begins to see a steady pulse of groundswell. Average wave heights climb to 1.5-1.8m with periods stretching into the 11-13 second range, delivering the most powerful surf of the year. While the dominant swell directions are from the north and east, the occasional S-SW swell can sneak in, aligning perfectly with the beach's SW exposure. Offshore wind conditions (N, NNW, NW, WNW) become more frequent, with ideal wind percentages peaking near 26% in January. This window offers the best chance for clean, lined-up waves, even if the swell direction is often not ideal.

Fair Surf Season (April, May, September)

Transition months bring a mix of waning winter energy and building summer patterns. Swell heights hold around 1.4-1.6m with periods of 11-12 seconds, but the consistency drops and wind becomes more variable. April and September see a slight uptick in ideal offshore wind (16-17%), but the dominant swell shifts further east, making it harder to find quality. May offers a brief window of better wind (21%) but the swell remains small and directionally challenged. These months can deliver fun sessions if the right combination of south swell and offshore breeze lines up.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer settles in with a persistent trade wind regime from the ENE and E, dominating over 80% of the time. Ideal offshore wind plummets to just 7-10%, and the swell is almost entirely from the east and southeast, missing Canoes' SW-facing setup altogether. Wave heights hover around 1.5m but with short, weak periods (10-11s) and a choppy, wind-affected texture. This is the slowest stretch of the year, where only the most dedicated will find small, groveling waves under less-than-ideal conditions.

April: Sizing Down, Shifting East

April marks a definite downturn for Canoes. Average wave height drops to 1.6m and period to 11.2s. The swell is dominated by ENE (28.2%) and E (22.2%), with almost no contribution from the south or southwest. Ideal wind fades to 16%, and the ENE wind roars at 60.3% of the time, often at speeds above 20kph. This creates a wind-swept, choppy surface even when there is swell. Occasional cold fronts can still bring west-northwest swell, but they are rare. Surfers will find mostly small, weak, and bumpy conditions. Best to pick a day with light winds and hope for a lucky south pulse.