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.

September: Autumn Stirrings

September begins the transition back toward winter. Average wave height dips to 1.4m but period rises to 11.4s, signaling more organized swell. The swell direction remains stubbornly east: E (31.1%), ESE (20.8%), ENE (12.0%). However, the S-SW quadrant starts to show a tiny pulse at 7.6%. Ideal wind improves to 17%, and the relentless ENE winds ease slightly to 74%. Early autumn can bring the first proper south swells of the season, and when combined with light offshore breezes from the north or west, Canoes can see clean, powerful waves in the 1-1.5m range. It's a month of potential, but you have to be ready to act fast.