Fishermans Point - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May - June & October - November)

The rhythm at Fishermans Point is heavily dictated by the seasonal shift of the African monsoon and the positioning of the St. Helena High. When the trades relax and the pressure gradient eases, we see windows of clean, workable surf. Late spring (May-June) and early fall (October-November) deliver the highest percentage of clear offshore flow from the west quadrant, as defined for this spot. During these months, the prevailing S-SSW swell trains, though not ideal for the WNW-facing beach, are wrapped with enough period (10-12s) to produce fun-sized, rippable lines, especially when combined with glassy mornings. The wind blows offshore (WNW-W-WSW-SW) a significant portion of the time, making those months the most consistent for quality sessions.

Fair Surf Season (March - April & July - September & December)

These months represent a mixed bag. March and April see a building swell from the Southern Ocean, but the onshore flow (SW-WSW) picks up, limiting ideal conditions to only 7-14% of the time. July through September offer the largest average swell heights (1.3-1.5m) from the S-SSW, but the trade winds strengthen, creating bumpy, wind-affected conditions more often than not. December still carries some of the fall’s promise, but swell heights drop and the ideal wind window narrows to 31% – making it a gamble, though occasional long-period groundswell can still slide in.

Low Surf Season (January - February)

Mid-winter is the quietest period. The Southern Ocean swell machine is still running, but the dominant S and SSW swell rarely aligns with the WNW exposure, and when it does, the fetch is often minimal. On top of that, the persistent SW-WSW winds, which are onshore for this beach, blow over 40% of the time, turning even the small 0.5-1m waves into choppy, messy conditions. Ideal wind drops to just 7-14% in these months, making it a time best suited for long walks on the sand or waiting for the rare, clean window.

August: Wind vs. Swell – A Constant Battle

August continues the pattern of large south swell and persistent wind. Average height is 1.5m (still the highest of the year), with a period of 11.6s. Swell direction is now shifting slightly more toward SSW: 61.4% from SSW and 36.4% from S, with 2.1% from SW. This is a more favorable direction for the WNW exposure, as SSW swells can wrap more directly. However, ideal wind drops to just 14% – the wind is simply not cooperating. The wind rose reveals that SW (25.2%), SSW (28.3%), and WSW (15.9%) dominate, with many readings at 10-20kph and frequent 20-30kph gusts. This creates heavy, wind-whipped conditions that ruin the wave shape. The 1-1.5m and 1.5-2m ranges are well represented (58.5% combined), and there are even 2-2.5m sets (3.7%), but quality is often poor. The few clean days occur when a tropical wave or an upper-level low draws in lighter easterly winds. August is a month for the committed surfer who doesn't mind battling the elements for the chance at a few powerful, albeit sloppy, waves.