What is the fishing index based on?

It combines solunar theory — moon phase plus the major and minor feeding windows that track the moon's transit, moonrise and moonset — with local weather factors such as wind, pressure and tide state.

When is the best time to fish at St Clair Beach?

The strongest bites cluster in the major solunar windows, especially where they overlap dawn or dusk. Check today's hourly activity chart and plan to be on the sand an hour before a major window opens.

How is the surf rating calculated?

Each hour is scored on swell height, period and direction, plus wind speed and its state relative to the coast. For curated spots the score is tuned to the break's optimal swell window; otherwise it reflects general conditions.

Fishing & Surf Forecast — St Clair Beach

Solunar feeding times, surf ratings and the best hours on the water at St Clair Beach.

The fishing index blends solunar theory — moon phase plus major and minor feeding windows — with local weather, computed from open data and local astronomy. Surf ratings score open marine-model data against what this coast works best with. Use them to pick your times: they are planning aids, not safety advice.

Today at St Clair Beach

70Very Good12Very Poor

Best fishing window: 11:15 – 13:15 (Peak 12:15)

Best surf window: 05:00 – 23:00 (12)

Spot Profile

Curated orientation and preferences for this beach.

South Island's city beach: cold, consistent S-SE groundswell and a heated salt-water pool for afterwards.

Best swell: 135° ± 40°, 180° ± 30°
Best wind: offshore (W-NW)
Best tide: mid to high
Surf level: intermediate

Beach faces 90° (E)
Optimal swell from 135° ± 40°
Optimal swell from 180° ± 30°
Today's swell from 209° (SSW)

Fishing Forecast — Today

Hourly Fishing Activity

Solunar activity score by hour. Dark bars sit inside major feeding periods; light blue bars mark minor periods.

Major period
Minor period
Dawn & dusk periods

Solunar Feeding Windows

Major periods run around the moon's transit and moonrise/moonset; shorter minor periods flank them. Peaks mark the strongest feeding minutes.

Waning Crescent

2% illuminated

Minor04:32 – 05:32Peak 05:02
Major11:15 – 13:15Peak 12:15
Minor19:13 – 20:13Peak 19:43

Surf Report — Today

Hourly Surf Conditions

Surf score by hour with swell height on the right axis. Hover for swell period, direction and wind.

Wind states used in the hourly data:

Glassy
Offshore
Cross-offshore
Cross-shore
Cross-onshore
Onshore
Unknown

Best Times

Today's top surf windows and tomorrow's fishing windows at a glance.

Surf — best windows today

05:00 – 23:0012

Fishing — windows tomorrow

Major23:38 – 01:38
Minor04:54 – 05:54
Major12:02 – 14:02
Minor20:24 – 21:24

Ratings account for this spot's preferred swell direction.

7-Day Fishing & Surf Outlook

Daily fishing and surf outlook for the week ahead.

Today
70Very Good12Very Poor
Tomorrow
80Excellent23Very Poor
Tue 10 Nov
80Excellent22Very Poor
Wed 11 Nov
55Good20Very Poor
Thu 12 Nov
70Very Good47Poor
Fri 13 Nov
70Very Good65Good
Sat 14 Nov
85Excellent85Epic

Methodology & Data Sources

Fishing: solunar + weather computed locally. Surf: Open-Meteo Marine (DWD EWAM/GWAM models). Scores are 0-100 planning indicators — always confirm conditions with official marine forecasts before swimming, fishing or surfing.

Marine data: Open-Meteo.com (CC-BY 4.0)

How the Fishing & Surf Index works

Frequently asked questions

What is the fishing index based on?: It combines solunar theory — moon phase plus the major and minor feeding windows that track the moon's transit, moonrise and moonset — with local weather factors such as wind, pressure and tide state.
When is the best time to fish at St Clair Beach?: The strongest bites cluster in the major solunar windows, especially where they overlap dawn or dusk. Check today's hourly activity chart and plan to be on the sand an hour before a major window opens.
How is the surf rating calculated?: Each hour is scored on swell height, period and direction, plus wind speed and its state relative to the coast. For curated spots the score is tuned to the break's optimal swell window; otherwise it reflects general conditions.