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.

September: Autumn Stirrings

September marks the first real shift towards bigger surf, with an average height of 1.7m and a period of 10.4s. Swell energy is still dominated by the NNW (25.3%), but heights are stepping up – 10% of observations show 1.5-2m from that direction, and 5.2% exceed 2m. The wind direction is the most favorable of any month, with ideal offshore (SSW-SW) registering 33% of the time. This combination yields clean, building swell that can produce highly enjoyable sessions. As the North Atlantic begins to stir with early autumn lows, the windows of quality expand. This is the month to keep an eye on the charts.