Stockton - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Atlantic roars to life during these months, and Stockton begins to see a marked uptick in both average swell height and period as strong extratropical storms march across the basin. With the south-facing orientation, the optimal swell directions from the S, SSW, SSE, and even SE become more prevalent. At the same time, the dominant high pressure builds in, delivering a higher frequency of offshore winds from N, NNW, NW, and NNE. This combination produces the most consistent and rideable waves of the year, with average heights hovering around 0.7m and periods often reaching the punchy 6-9s range. While truly firing days are rare due to the generally small size, when a low pressure sets up perfectly, we can see long period S swells wrapping in under sunny skies and light offshore breezes, creating fun, rippable conditions.

Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)

As the winter pattern fades, April and May offer a transitional mix. The swell window remains open to southern hemi swells, but the average height drops to 0.5-0.6m and periods lag around 6.6-6.7s. Offshore wind frequency decreases, and onshore southerlies become more common, especially in May. September sees a modest revival as early autumn lows begin to spin up, bringing average heights back to 0.6m and the highest average period of the year at 8.0s. However, the wind becomes a bigger factor, with ideal offshore conditions only 9% of the time. During these shoulder months, you have to pick your windows carefully to find clean, waist-high surf.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Summer is the doldrums at Stockton. The North Atlantic settles down, and the dominant swell is from the SE, SSE, and S, but almost exclusively under 0.5m. The average height drops to 0.4m with periods up to 7.3s, but the combination of small, weak swell and frequent onshore winds from the S, SSW, and SW makes for choppy, messy conditions. Offshore wind is a rare commodity, clocking in at only 2-4% of the time. The few rideable days come from a stray tropical storm or a brief northerly wind event, but generally it's a time for groveling on micro-swell or enjoying other water activities. The surf is simply too small and wind-affected to produce quality waves.

August: Faint Glimmers

August sees the average swell height still at 0.4m, but the period bumps up to 7.3s—the second highest of the year. The swell direction is dominated by the SE and SSE at 47.3%, but more than 90% of that is under 0.5m. Ideal wind improves slightly to 4%, but onshore winds remain strong from the S, SSW, and SW at 32.3%. The NW and WNW offshore winds are present 9.3% of the time. There is a subtle increase in swell from the NE and ENE (14.7% combined), but those directions are not optimal for Stockton. The longer period (7-9s) means that when a small pulse arrives, it has a bit more push, but the tiny size limits quality. Late August can bring the first hints of tropical swell from a hurricane passing offshore, which might send a 1-1.5m S swell with clean north winds—a rare gem in an otherwise flat month.