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.

October: The Wind Switch Brings Quality

October is a standout month for surf quality at Fishermans Point. The average swell height drops to 1.1m, and period is 11.3s – not the biggest, but the wind patterns change dramatically. Ideal wind surges to 47% of the time, thanks to a shift in the regional pressure gradient. The African monsoon retreats, and a broad high-pressure system settles to the north, drawing in light to moderate east-northeasterly winds (ENE-E) that blow clean across the point. The swell is still dominated by the south (82.5% from S, 16.4% from SSW), but the improved wind conditions turn even the 0.5-1m waves into fun, clean lines. The 1-1.5m range accounts for 65.1% of the swell, with occasional 1.5-2m sets (3.3%). The wind rose shows a dramatic reduction in strong SW-WSW winds and an increase in light trades from the SE-SSE (15.5% combined). This means many days with offshore flow (by our definition: WNW-W-WSW-SW) are actually light and clean. October is a prime month for a surf trip – consistent small to fun waves with excellent conditions.