Wishing Well - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Pacific winter machine fires up consistently from October through March, delivering a steady diet of mid-period to long-period swell from the northeast quadrant. While Wishing Well faces west, the dominant swell energy arrives from NNE-ENE, wrapping into the cove or refracting off local bathymetry to produce a punchy, rideable wave. Average swell heights sit in the 1.2-1.6m range with periods of 10 seconds, offering plenty of fun-sized to solid surf. Offshore wind conditions are driven by cool high-pressure systems over the interior, which funnel east-northeast winds across the coastline – ideal for grooming the faces. The combination of reliable swell and favorable wind makes these six months the prime window for clean, rippable waves at Wishing Well.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

April and September serve as transitional months, bridging the winter peak and summer lull. Swell heights drop slightly to the 1.1-1.3m range, but wave periods remain solid at 9-10 seconds, so there is still plenty of push for a grovel board or a shortboard. Offshore wind likelihood increases to 54-68%, thanks to the breakdown of strong winter gradients and the onset of lighter spring/fall patterns. While the size is not as consistent as winter, these months offer epic windows of clean, punchy surf when the right combination of northeast groundswell and east wind aligns.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer months are the leanest period for Wishing Well as the Pacific storm track retreats north and the dominant swell direction shifts even more toward the northeast with shorter periods (6-9s). Average wave heights hover around 1.0m, consisting mostly of windswell and small background pulses. The good news is that offshore east winds become the norm (51-68% of the time), but the lack of size and period makes for mostly small, fun-sized days suited to high-volume boards. Occasional tropical storms or distant swells can spike the energy, but generally this is a low-energy season where patience or a log is required to make the most of it.

March: Late-Winter Swell Meets Improving Winds

March signals the transition out of core winter, with average swell still at 1.5m and period at 10.0s. The swing toward more NE and NNE swell strengthens – together they make up 56.8% of the total. The wind picture brightens, with ideal conditions reaching 46% of the time. ENE wind remains the primary offshore direction (30.8%), but speeds are lighter on average compared to January and February, with fewer gusts above 30kph. This translates into cleaner, more user-friendly surf on many days. Swell heights remain stout, with a solid portion of 1.5-2.5m waves (21.6% from NE and NNE combined). Toward the end of the month, the jet stream begins to weaken, reducing the number of big swell events but still delivering long-period pulses that can fire when the early dawn east wind glasses off the surface. A great month for scoring fun, punchy waves without the winter crowds.