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.

September: The Turnaround – Swell Quality Returns

September marks a clear shift as average swell height climbs to 1.1m and period jumps to 9.1s – a full 2 seconds longer than August. The swell composition evolves: NE and NNE account for 46.9% of the energy, and ENE still contributes 33.6%, but the wave heights start to broaden with more 1.5-2m sets. Wind conditions are excellent, with ideal offshore percentages hitting 68% – the best of the year. Light east and northeast winds (mostly under 20kph) dominate, creating smooth, lined-up surf. The longer period makes the waves more powerful and rippable, even at smaller sizes. September is a true sweet spot: the summer consistency meets early-fall swell pulses. Look for days when a passing front generates a pulse of NE groundswell and the wind stays light – that is when Wishing Well absolutely fires.