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.

June: Peak Power and Offshore Potential

June brings the largest average swell of the year: 1.3m with a period of 12.0s. The south swell train is in full swing – 73.2% from S, 26.1% from SSW – but the higher period (10-14s) makes these waves both powerful and capable of bending into the WNW lineup. The standout feature this month is the wind: ideal conditions (offshore from WNW-W-WSW-SW) occur 48% of the time, the second-highest percentage of the year. The trade wind inversion weakens, allowing for long stretches of light to moderate east-northeasterly flow (E, ESE, SE) that clean up the ocean surface beautifully. Wave heights are distributed nicely: 1-1.5m (77.2%) and 1.5-2m (15.4%), with even a trace of 2-2.5m (0.7%). This means you can find fun, rippable waves most days, and when a larger southern hemi groundswell aligns with these light winds, the point can hold some bowling sections. June is arguably the most consistent month for quality surf at Fishermans Point – the combination of size, period, and wind makes for excellent sessions.