Pickop's Point (Talofofo Bay)
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Swell
- Spot Type
- Empty
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Pickop's Point (Talofofo Bay) is a right-breaking reef surf spot on Guam known for short, fast rides over a shallow coral/rock bottom. The wave is described as peeling with good wave quality when conditions are favorable, but it won’t hold significant size—expect quick bursts rather than long lines. Timing is important: it works best at low-to-mid tide with a rising tide, though the reef is especially shallow around low tide. For cleanliness, the spot is highly dependent on wind direction—west winds are typically best (offshore), while the prevailing easterly trades can make the wave choppy and messy. Swell from the east is the preferred setup, with the spot starting to work at less than 1 meter and commonly operating up to around 1 meter-plus (with a more detailed working range also given as roughly 0.5 to 1.5 meters). Because the break is on a sharp, shallow reef with rocks/coral and nearby cliff/lava outcrop hazards, surfers must be ready to kick out swiftly. The hazards include rocks, reef, coral, sharp coral heads/shallow rocks, and urchins, and the spot can become heavy and close out on very large swells. No on-site lifeguards or dedicated rescue are reported, so plan accordingly and prioritize controlled entries/exits. Access is straightforward: it’s essentially an instant walk from the road between Ipan and Talofofo Bay (near Route 4). The area is generally described as uncrowded (including empty weekdays and weekends), though the spot is considered local and dedicated surfers tend to be the main visitors.
- Short right-breaking reef wave over coral and sharp rocks
- Works best with an east swell and clean west (offshore) wind
- Best tide window: low to mid with rising tide
- Instant roadside access between Ipan and Talofofo Bay
- Consistent right-hand reef break with good wave quality when wind/swell align.
- Trade winds are very consistent (about 150 days/year).
- Instant access from the road between Ipan and Talofofo Bay.
- Very short rides (usually under 50 meters).
- Shallow reef with sharp rocks/coral; requires fast kick-outs near hazards.
- Highly dependent on receiving an east swell and cleaner wind conditions (offshore west winds preferred).
- No on-site rescue/lifeguards reported.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W
- Offshore directions
- W
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Prevailing trade winds; very consistent (about 150 days/year).
- Reliability
- Very consistent (around 150 days/year).
- Best Months
- September, October, November, December, January, February
- Thermal Window
- Other · Thermal effects are minimal in the region; consistency is driven mainly by trade winds, with occasional sea-breeze reinforcement.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Rocks — Rocky shoreline.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Reported as small; starts working at under 1 m and can hold up to around 1 m+.
- Launch
- Small — Rocky shoreline entry with a paddle out to the break.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Difficult rocky shoreline entry; shallow reef and hazards require careful access.
Through the year
Generally uncrowded on weekdays; can see a handful of local surfers on weekends.
July to November is the wet season/typhoon season.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Right-breaking reef wave over coral and sharp rocks; works best at low-to-mid tide with rising tide. The wave is quick with short rides and does not hold significant size.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- E
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, Mid — Also noted as good with rising tide; low tide is especially shallow on the reef.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open coastal exposure; wind can directly affect cleanliness.
- Wind Effect
- Best with offshore winds from the west; easterly trades can make the wave choppy and messy.
- Bigger Swell
- Can become heavy and close out on very large swells.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Good wave quality but highly dependent on swell and clean wind.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Described as ordinary/moderate power with short bursts.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Right-hand peeling reef break.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peeling waves.
- Ride Length
- Short — Short and fast rides, typically under 50 meters.
- Typical Ride Length
- 20–50 m
- Ride Length Details
- Short (< 50 m) and quick; typically under 50 meters.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Pickop's Point (Talofofo Bay) in the full forecast view.
Pickop's Point (Talofofo Bay) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–12 ktsGusts 18 kts
- Direction
- ENE76°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2512 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.3–2.2 m9s period
- Temperature
- 26–30 °C
Over the next 7 days, Pickop's Point (Talofofo Bay) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–12 kts, peaking around 12 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 18 kts. The prevailing direction is ENE. Waves run 1.3–2.2 m with a period of about 9s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Reef
- Coral
- Sharp coral heads
- Shallow rocks
- Small cliff
- Three-meter lava outcrop
- Urchins
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported at the spot.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No dedicated on-site rescue reported at the beach/launch.
- Emergency Info
- For emergencies, dial 911. Rescue in the area is managed by Guam Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Mainly visited by local residents and dedicated surfers; respect local surfers.
Rules of the spot
Kick out swiftly due to the proximity of a small cliff and lava outcrop / shallow reef hazards; follow standard surfing etiquette and respect local surfers.
- Kick out swiftly due to nearby hazards; rides are very short.
- Works best at low-to-mid tide, with a rising tide (reef is very shallow at low tide).
- Ideal when Talofofo Bay is flat.
- Booties are highly recommended due to sharp reef and rocky entry.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Hagåtña
- Nearest Town
- Ipan
- Nearest Airport
- Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM)
- Parking
- Unorganized roadside parking on the shoulder of the main road (and park on the left after crossing the bridge on Route 4 south to Talofofo Bay).
- Public Transport
- extremely limited; a rental car is essential for this rural part of the island.
- Access
- Instant access (< 5 min walk) from the road between Ipan and Talofofo Bay, just before the road turns inland for the bay. Park on the left after crossing the bridge when following Route 4 south to Talofofo Bay.
- Cost Level
- Expensive
- Local Language
- English, Chamorro
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Limited local rentals/guest houses in the Talofofo/Ipan area; many visitors stay in the Tumon Bay hotel district.
- Food & Drink
- No facilities at the spot; small convenience stores and local eateries are located in Ipan and Talofofo.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is not reported as available directly at the bay; rentals are available from shops in Hagåtña or Tumon Bay.
- Gear Storage
- No public gear storage facilities reported.
- Gear Repair
- Basic surfboard repair available through surf shops in Hagåtña.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The surrounding Talofofo region is rugged and nature-forward, with warm-water coastal recreation and WWII/cultural history.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Pickop's Point (Talofofo Bay)?
The best overall months at Pickop's Point (Talofofo Bay) are September, October, November, December, January, February, March. The best wind months are September, October, November, December, January, February.
Which wind directions work at Pickop's Point (Talofofo Bay)?
Pickop's Point (Talofofo Bay) works with W winds. Offshore directions are W.
What skill level is Pickop's Point (Talofofo Bay) suitable for?
Pickop's Point (Talofofo Bay) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced.