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.

November: Peak Consistency for Clean Surf

November is the pinnacle of the year for surf quality at Fishermans Point. The average swell height is 1.0m, period 11.0s – solid, fun-sized waves. Swell remains predominantly from the south (89.1% from S, 8.0% from SSW), but the real story is the wind: ideal offshore conditions occur a whopping 58% of the time – the highest of any month. The pressure gradient is at its weakest, with trade winds nearly absent. Light winds from the east quadrant (ENE-E-ESE-SE) dominate (24.5% combined), often at 0-10kph, creating glassy, windless mornings. Even the S and SSW winds (26.5% combined) are mostly light and do not harm the surf. Wave distribution is heavily weighted to 0.5-1m (54.3%) and 1-1.5m (45.2%), with a tiny fraction over 1.5m. This is not a month for massive waves, but for clean, rippable waves that are perfect for longboarding or fun shortboard sessions. The consistency of clean conditions is unmatched – expect many days with sunny skies, light offshore breezes, and nice little lines wrapping into the point. November is the month to book your trip.