Red Tree Reef • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Pacific roars to life during October, and Red Tree Reef sees a sharp jump in average surf heights as a strengthening Aleutian Low sends long-period groundswell toward this west-facing reef. From October through March, average surf ranges from a solid 8ft (2.4m) to a deep 10ft (3.0m), with wave periods often sitting in the powerful 10-12 second range. Swell directions are most frequently WSW and SW, but the W and WNW energy is the real magic for this exposed west-facing break. Offshore winds from the ENE/E/ESE/SE quadrant are the key to clean conditions; when they align, the reef holds steep, grinding, barrelable winter waves. The core of the season is December through February, when water temps bottom out near 5-6°C (41-43°F) and heavy-duty rubber is essential.

Fair Surf Season (April and September)

April and September are the transition months that offer the best compromise between size and sanity. April still averages around 7ft (2.1m) with a long-period, SW-dominant swell, while September sees the first autumn resurgence to 6-7ft (1.8-2.1m) after the summer lull. These months also tend to have a wider mix of winds, and April's 30% ideal-wind frequency is the highest of the year. Expect less consistent size than winter but cleaner, more manageable reef surf with fewer all-time heavy days.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer is the slow season at Red Tree Reef. The North Pacific high pressure ridge dominates and the average wave height shrinks to 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m), with periods dropping into the 9-10s range. Swell is still mostly SW/WSW, but it lacks the energy to draw the reef into proper shape. Meanwhile, the prevailing NW/WNW winds blow onshore and add chop, leaving only 21-26% of the time with ideal offshore flow. Early mornings before the sea breeze, or pulses of SSE/SE windswell, are the only real chances for clean, small-scale fun during the summer months.