Casino Pier - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The brunt of the North Atlantic storm track aims directly at Casino Pier from October through March, delivering average swell heights of 1.2-1.3m and periods that frequently push into the 7-8 second range. During these months, the dominant swell directions rotate through the eastern quadrants (ENE, E, ESE, SE), which align best with the east-facing beach. While offshore wind frequencies hover around 27-35%, the combination of stronger, longer-period groundswells and west-to-northwest wind events (WSW, W, WNW, NW) can produce epic, pumping days – especially in December and January when the jet stream is most active. Look for the classic winter setup: a deep low off the coast, followed by brisk offshore flow, to score clean, hollow waves at the pier.

Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)

These transitional months offer a mixed bag. April and May see average swell heights drop to 1.0-1.2m, with the wave period still hanging around 7.2-7.4s. The percentage of offshore wind improves slightly (29-35%), but the swell becomes increasingly dominated by south and southeast directions (S, SSE, SE) – a less optimal angle for the east-facing pier, resulting in more crumbly, less powerful waves. September marks the first real pulse of autumn energy: average height climbs back to 1.1m, period jumps to 8.3s, and the swell direction spreads back toward the east (ESE, E, SE). Offshore wind is still decent at 36%, making it a prime month for catching the first decent sets before winter fully arrives.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

The summer months at Casino Pier are characterized by small, weak surf. Average heights bottom out at 0.8-0.9m, and while the offshore wind frequency peaks at 44-49% (thanks to building southwest and west winds), the swell is overwhelmingly from the south and southeast (SSE, SE, S) – not ideal for the east-facing orientation. The wave periods remain mediocre (6.9-7.5s), meaning most days produce nothing more than knee-high, wind-affected slop. However, occasional tropical storms or hurricanes can spin up short-period east swell, offering brief windows of fun-sized, groveling waves for those willing to wait out the long periods of flatness.

August: Late Summer Stirrings

August sees a slight uptick in wave energy as the Atlantic hurricane season begins to stir. Average swell height rises to 0.9m, and the period improves to 7.5s – a sign of more distant storm swells. The swell direction remains heavily weighted toward the southeast: SSE (25.7%), SE (23.2%), S (16.7%), and E (9.4%) lead the way. The east component (E, ENE) is still minimal, but the longer period suggests organized swell lines that can wrap into the pier with a bit more push. Offshore wind frequency is 46%, high, with SSW (13.7%), SW (12.0%), and WSW (7.2%) dominating. These winds keep the surface clean, and on days with a solid 1-1.5m southeast swell, the pier can offer fun, rippable waves – especially for shortboards. August is the best summer month for surf, but it still requires patience and a good radar for tropical storms.