Rabo de Peixe - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life during these months, with powerful low-pressure systems marching across the basin, sending consistent, long-period swell towards the Azores. Rabo de Peixe directly faces the brunt of NNW to NNE groundswell, with average heights well into the 2.5-2.8m range and periods often exceeding 11-12s. The trade-off is wind: a moderate percentage of these days feature offshore flow from the SSW-SW, but when a high-pressure ridge sets up over the Iberian Peninsula, we see classic autumn and winter perfection – glassy faces groomed by a light south breeze. This is prime time for consequence.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

The transition months bring a mix of fading winter energy and building summer patterns. April still delivers solid 2.2m average swell with punchy 10-11s periods, though the wind consistency for offshore conditions drops to around 23%. September sees a resurgence after the summer lull, with average height climbing back to 1.7m and periods stretching to 10.4s – and notably the highest percentage (33%) of ideal offshore wind all year. You'll need to be selective, but when a late-season storm aligns, these shoulder months can serve up surprising quality.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

As the Atlantic high-pressure belt strengthens and the storm track retreats northward, Rabo de Peixe enters a prolonged period of smaller, less consistent swell. Average heights range from just 1.2m to 1.8m, with periods hovering in the 9-10s range – rideable but lacking the punch of winter. While the offshore wind window (SSW-SW) remains fairly reliable at 24-30%, the waves rarely crack the 1.5m mark, making a grovel board your best friend. Still, if you time a southerly wind day with a rare north Atlantic pulse, you can score clean, fun-sized peaks.

May: Summer Lull Begins

As summer approaches, average swell height drops to 1.8m and period shortens to 10.0s. The swell still comes predominantly from the NNW (19.3%) and NW (13.4%), but heights are increasingly in the 1-1.5m range – fun but not firing. The wind remains a mixed bag: offshore conditions from the SSW-SW occur 27% of the time, a slight improvement over April. However, north quadrant winds still blow 25% of the time, often creating onshore slop. The best windows are short-lived, often tied to small, fast-moving lows that brush the Azores. A grovel board becomes your go-to, but on the right day you can still find clean, rippable peaks.