Las Gatas - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (June - October)

As the North Pacific summer monsoon pattern sets in, the wind regime shifts dramatically in favour of Las Gatas. From June through October, the percentage of ideal offshore wind conditions (from the SW, WSW, W, and WNW quadrants) consistently hovers around 40% or higher, peaking at 46% in September. This is the sweet spot for clean, glassy surfaces. Swell heights average a solid 1.4 to 1.5 metres, with periods in the 13-14 second range, delivering powerful, long-period lines from the SSW and SW that wrap nicely into the west-facing bay. The combination of warm water, reliable swell, and frequent offshore wind makes this the prime window for surfing Las Gatas.

Fair Surf Season (November - February)

Autumn gives way to winter and the trade winds relax, but the frequency of ideal offshore winds drops to the 17-27% range. The swell becomes smaller on average, ranging from 1.0 to 1.2 metres, yet the period remains impressively long (13-14 seconds). Dominant swell directions shift slightly more toward the SSW and SW, which still produce fun, rippable waves. However, the wind is more often from the NW and NNW (onshore directions), creating crumbly, bumpy conditions. When a high-pressure system settles over the mainland and delivers light easterly gradients, the mornings can turn epic with clean, lined-up sets. This is a transitional season for the savvy surfer who can time the windows.

Low Surf Season (March - May)

Spring is the most challenging time for consistent surfing at Las Gatas. The percentage of ideal wind plummets to single digits (7-12% in March and April). The swell actually peaks in size during April and May, averaging 1.3-1.4 metres with stellar periods over 14 seconds, but the wind is almost always onshore from the NW, WNW, and W quadrants. These strong thermal gradients, driven by the heating of the continent, turn the ocean into a bumpy, choppy mess. While the long-period groundswells have incredible potential, they are rarely accompanied by the clean offshore breeze needed to unlock the bay’s full potential. Only the occasional cold front pushing through can reset the pattern, offering brief windows of light offshore flow.

April: Big Swell, Big Challenge

April averages 1.3m with a period of 14.1 seconds, the second-highest period of the year. An incredible 70.4% of the swell comes from the SSW, with 28.0% from the SW. Wave heights are often in the 1-1.5m and 1.5-2m range. However, ideal wind is at an annual low of just 7%. The wind is overwhelmingly from the W (22.4%) and WNW (23.9%), with many readings at 10-20 kph. This creates constant onshore wind chop. Groundswell from distant Southern Ocean storms has the power, but the surface texture is rarely clean. Only a strong cut-off low over the Baja could swing wind to the offshore sector—a rare event.