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.

March: Signs of Life from the South

March marks the beginning of the swell ramp-up, with average height rising to 1.0m and period stretching to 11.5s – the first hints of longer-period groundswell. The S and SSW sectors continue to dominate (49.7% and 48.2% respectively), but we start to see more 1-1.5m waves (42.5% combined). Despite this, the wind remains challenging: ideal conditions only 7% of the time. The SW-WSW flow is still strong (43.1% total), but light wind days (0-10kph) become more frequent in the afternoon, offering brief windows of smooth surface. The swell energy is increasing, and the lines are punchier – when the wind does cooperate (usually early morning), you can find fun, rideable waves in the 1-1.5m range. The key is to monitor the synoptic setup: a strong high south of Australia can fire a SSW swell that wraps into Fishermans Point with surprising power.