Zambujeira do Mar spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras

Zambujeira do Mar · Portugal
5.3
wave 0.7 m head-on
visibility3m

Today — right on the edge — wave, wind and noticeable surge.

Sources: IPMA · NDBC · Copernicus — high confidence · data 13:23

Sources & confidence

Sources
IPMA · NDBC buoys · Copernicus Marine
Method
Model consensus, read per window
Freshness
Re-read every hour, per coast

Compiled by the spearo sea-state engine

The verdict comes from seven water factors and hard safety gates — not ten tabs. Go or stay.

How we score the water

Our own model

Our own forecast engine — not a third-party widget. It weighs these water factors into one go-or-stay verdict for this coast; the 0–10 dial is that verdict, read out as a number.

Swell & wave memory
Height, period and direction of the swell, plus the wake of recent storms — an old storm still stirs the water, and the engine remembers.
Wind & gusts
Speed and gusts, hour by hour — wind speed and an onshore push chop the surface and cut visibility.
Tide phase
Timing and range of the tide, calibrated per coast — big spring tides pull the verdict toward caution.
Water temperature
Sea-surface temperature — sharply cold water vetoes a green verdict.
Currents & outflow
Direction and drift of the current — it pushes you, and it drags turbid coastal water across where you dive.
Rain runoff & air clarity
Rain muddies the water inshore through land runoff, while fog and haze cut visibility at the surface.
Coast shape & exposure
How the coast faces the swell — a sheltered cove keeps the water clean; an exposed, head-on point takes a penalty.

Safety gates

  • Thunderstorm forecast — an instant red, no exceptions.
  • An official warning (MeteoAlarm / IPMA) — yellow, or red for the higher ranks.
  • Missing input data — a would-be green is capped to yellow rather than overstated.
  • Strong disagreement between forecast models — a green day is pulled back to yellow.
  • Night hours — forced red; the window is closed after dark.

It all folds into a single 0–10 score and one verdict: go or stay.

A forecast, not a guarantee — the sea has the last word.

Where to get in, where to hunt

Entry points with coordinates
Seabed relief — promising ground

This verdict — in your pocket. Open the app for the week's window.

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0 m

Surface

Wind, wave and the swell windows — when to go and the best hours.

spearo.app
calmupdated 13:23
Zambujeira do Mar — solo, off the rocks
BORDERLINE
caution — solo off the rocks is risky, check on site · wind-wave — choppy surface
wave 0.7 m head-onwind 19, gusts 40 km/hnoticeable surgevisibility ~4 m
today, best window 15:00–18:00
fish · Visibility 4 m · Water 19.2°C
confidence high · verdict for the selected day
Whole week — tap a day. is driving swell right now.
Solo risk: carry a float · tell someone your plan and exit time · doubt = don't go. A model-based planner; the call is made on site.
Selected day

Windows, hours
and the day's trends.

The day is picked above, in the hero. Here are that day's windows, the hour-by-hour map and the trends. Tap a window to break down the conditions.

Wednesday · today2026-07-22
06:31–20:51 · first quarter
▼ 03:00▲ 09:00▼ 15:00▲ 21:00 · 1.3 m
Hours (06→20)
12
15
18
Day's trends
Tide-0.04 m
Wave0.72 m
Wind4 km/h
Water19 °C
fish activity: moonset 00:44 · moderate · moon underfoot 08:00 · high · moonrise 15:14 · moderate · moon overhead 20:10 · high
Conditions window12:00–15:00
caution — solo off the rocks is risky, check on site fish ·
Hs 0.70 mperiod 5.5 s head-onwind 18→36surge 2.2viz 3 m
0.70 mup to ~1.40 · 307° head-on
5.5 sswell moderate
18→36gusts 36 km/h
2.2pounding the rocks
0.44m/s
3 mrecent swell
19°C5 mm + hood
▼15:00tide turn near
Atmosphere37 kmlandmarks visible
moderatemoonrise
  • strong wind 18 km/h, gusts 36 — caution
  • current 0.44 m/s
  • ebb — weaker inshore
confidence highday
Open the seafloor map with entry points

Your best window — with you. Forecast in your pocket.

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Android: the public release is in Google Play review — leave your email and we'll send beta access today.

Android beta — QR code
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−10 m

The water column

Visibility and what drives it — post-storm clearing, river plume, temperature and the thermocline.

What it is

A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.

spearo.app folds wind, wave, swell period, visibility, tides, water temperature and risk into a single verdict — go to the spot or not. It computes 7 days ahead from open marine models (Open-Meteo, IPMA), with no sign-up and no accounts. Built for solo spearfishing off the rocks, where any mistake costs dearly.

Now live: 1152 spots across 189 stretches of coast — mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.

See all spots
−20 m

The seabed

Relief and bottom type, tides, and the depths of each spot.

On the rock

The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.

The models set the window. Whether you go in is read only at the water: count the sets, watch the surge on the entry. If in doubt, you don't get in.

Entry points

Where to get in
off the rocks.

Scouted entries, coloured by today. The colour is the sea state at the spot, not a guarantee: the wash and a slippery entry you judge on site.

Open the seafloor map
Praia dos Alteirinhos / Ponta do LajãoCove ~800 m S of the village, south rocky tip
borderline
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
Early morning, calm before the N wind. Season: summer and early autumn.
tide
Low/mid tide exposes the slabs and tidal pools by Ponta do Lajão — enter there; at high tide the beach narrows sharply.
shelter
High-cliff cove shelters from the N wind; the south Ponta do Lajão tip gives the rocky reef. Fully open to W/SW swell.
hazard
STRONG CURRENTS and shorebreak on the rock exit — as swell builds, entrapment risk between the slabs at Ponta do Lajão. No lifeguard, cold water. Not a solo spot on marginal swell.
access
Steep wooden cliff stairway (waterfall alongside); reef at the south tip. No facilities — bring everything.

Unguarded naturist beach — rocky reef prized by anglers (Ponta do Lajão); quiet but no backup. Scout from land first.

Google Maps
Entrada da Barca (Porto das Barcas)Fishing-port cove, 3 km N of the village
borderline
best candidate for today
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
Early morning before the N wind builds and before the fleet heads out. Best viz in summer/early autumn.
tide
Ramp entry is easiest at mid/high tide; the low tide exposes the pebble-and-slab ledges.
shelter
The cove is tucked into the cliffs and blocks N/NW wind and swell; the most sheltered entry on this stretch. Open to big W/SW swell.
hazard
DOMINANT danger is the working fishing port: boats launching/landing on the ramp and traffic inside the cove. Fly a buoy, surface against the rocks, stay out of the boat lane.
access
Municipal road M1158 north from the village to the port; enter from the concrete boat ramp/slipway.

Active artisanal port (~75 boats); entry is legal but time it around the fleet — auction around 11:00.

Google Maps
Praia da Zambujeira do MarVillage beach below the clifftop viewpoint
closed
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
For hunting, only outside the bathing season/guard hours; in season use it to scout and enter, not to shoot near the beach.
tide
Low/mid tide — at high tide the sand narrows sharply and the side rocks submerge.
shelter
Narrow long beach under high cliffs, sheltered from the N wind; rocks at both ends. Exposed to W/SW swell.
hazard
Concession bathing beach with a lifeguard — shooting in the bathing zone in season is BANNED (≥50 m off the shore). The rocky ends throw shorebreak and rip on swell.
access
Cliff stairway from the village straight onto the sand; parking and facilities in season.

Fallback/scout entry: safe descent and parking, but as a bathing beach, hunt only off-season and away from the swim zone.

Google Maps

SOLO is the biggest risk: underwater you can black out from lack of oxygen silently and fatally, with no one around. Solo is never truly «safe». Below are the best weather windows; carry a buoy, tell someone your plan and exit time, and any doubt — don't go.

One morning glance — and you know.

Download on theApp StoreGET IT ONGoogle Play

Android: the public release is in Google Play review — leave your email and we'll send beta access today.

Android beta — QR code
point your camera
≈

Surfacing

Cameras, map and reference — to hand as you come up.

Live cameras, map & reference
Open the seafloor map →
Reference

What's in season,
what the law says.

In season now: Sea bass, White seabream, Gilthead bream, Salema, Meagre, Mullet · coming soon: Octopus (Sep)

In season now
  • Robalo (sea bass)
    <4 m · end of ebb → start of flood · dawn/dusk
    Prime target. Shy of light — pick early/twilight windows.
  • Sargo (white seabream)
    1–5 m · flood (rides the surf onto the reef) · dawn
    Dominant reef target. Visibility matters more than time of day.
  • Dourada (gilthead bream)
    1–4 m · flood over sand/weed · dawn
    Very skittish — static ambush.
  • Salema
    0–2 m · — · daytime
    Easiest target at 0–6 m. ⚠️ Do NOT eat the head/guts (ichthyosarcotoxism).
  • Tainha (mullet)
    0–2 m · — · —
    Extremely wary; murky water HINDERS it. Opportunistic, in calm coves.
  • Corvina (meagre)
    1–6 m (marginal) · — · twilight
    Near the Tagus mouth, NOT on the Guincho rocks. Adults mostly at 5–75 m. ⚠️ CLOSED 1–30 June (defeso).
  • Santola (spider crab)
    1–10 m · low water (reef shelf exposed) · calm morning (≤force 2)
    Carapace ≥12 cm. Peaks Jul–Aug. CLOSED 15.02–15.06. Limit 2 kg/day.
Law
🦀 spider crab open (season 16.06–14.02)
  • ✓Spearfishing licence required (16+), daily/monthly/annual (~€25/yr). Speargun = licence required.
  • ✓Hand-gathering shellfish with NO gear — no licence; but if a speargun is on the dive, a spearfishing licence is required.
  • ✓Night prohibited: spearfishing only in daylight (sunset→sunrise not allowed). Artificial light as a means of finding/attracting fish is banned — a torch for safety only.
  • ✓Signalling buoy MANDATORY for spearfishing: buoy/float with an «Alfa» flag (red/orange/yellow, ≥8 L), no more than 30 m from the diver.
  • ✓Spearfishing daily limit: fish + cephalopods — 15 kg (excluding the largest specimen). General rod-and-line recreational fishing — 10 kg.
  • ✓Invertebrates (including spider crab) — 2 kg/day total.
  • ✓Spider crab: min. carapace 12 cm; (closed season) 15.02–15.06 — applies to recreational gathering too.
  • ✓Min. sizes: robalo 36 cm, sargo 17 cm, dourada 19 cm, choupa 23 cm, corvina 42 cm; octopus 750 g.
  • ✓Grouper — fully protected, may not be taken.
  • ⛔ Grouper (Epinephelus) — fully protected, capture PROHIBITED.
  • ⛔ Seahorses (Hippocampus) — protected.

Rules change. Before heading out, check with DGRM / ICNF / Capitania and the defeso table.

Safety protocol
  • Sets: watch the wave trains ≥15 min before entering; Hmax ≈ 2×Hs, the wash can run 50 m past the foam line. A lull >10 min with period >12 s = a big set «overdue», do NOT enter; enter right after a full set passes and re-check at minute 30.
  • Exit FIRST: find your exit AND a backup before entering. At Cabo Raso/Arriba a 0.5 m rise in swell makes a boulder exit impossible — getting pinned/unable to climb out is the main killer here.
  • Headland rip: at Cabo Raso there is a permanent topographic rip regardless of the model — locate it, enter/exit on the windward side, never swim against it.
  • Cold: wetsuit per the SST chip; the first shiver = a metabolic surge and a drop in breath-hold → get out at the first steady shiver. Cap the session at 45–60 min below 15 °C.
  • Solo discipline: buoy up; tell someone the spot and exit time; conservative breath-hold (never push it in cold/murky/surfy water); visibility <3 m — don't enter.
  • Nortada (Jun–Sep): wind builds from midday — be out of the water by ~11:00; the chop builds — get out.
  • UV 11:00–15:00 (UVI ≥6): sunscreen and cover up on the surface interval.
  • Solo is a fundamental risk (hypoxic blackout with no buddy). Any doubt = No-go.
Local guide · Zambujeira do Mar

Spearfishing in Zambujeira do Mar: spots, seasons and rules

Updated 2026-07-09 · By Oleksandr, spearfisher

Spearfishing in Zambujeira do Mar is a cliff-entry decision. Entrada da Barca is practical because the cove cuts some N/NW wind and swell, but it is an active fishing harbour. Alteirinhos and Ponta do Lajao offer quieter reef, yet they are less forgiving: steep access, no support, strong current and rock exit. The village beach is a bathing fallback, not a hunting mark in season.

TL;DR

  • Zambujeira is cliff-coast spearfishing: good reef, few entries and small-sea dependence.
  • Entrada da Barca is most sheltered, but boat traffic controls the plan.
  • Alteirinhos/Lajao is quieter but has no support, strong current and a hard rock exit.

Spearfishing entries in Zambujeira do Mar

The harbour cove gives shelter; Lajao gives a quieter, more exposed reef. The village beach stays out as a bathing area.

SpotTypeDepthLevelAccessNotes
Entrada da Barca (Porto das Barcas)Fishing-harbour cove between cliffsShallow to moderate along the rocks and cove mouthIntermediateHarbour ramp from the M1158 north of the village.Sheltered, but open to strong W/SW swell. Active boats use the ramp and channel; stay clear.
Praia dos Alteirinhos / Ponta do LajaoCliff cove with reef on the south pointShallow reef, ledges and tide poolsAdvanced solo; intermediate with partner and small seaSteep cliff stairs; no beach support.Only with swell around 1 m or less and light wind. Current and rock-exit shorebreak are the hazards.

Conditions and season essentials

Entrada da Barca works when W/SW swell is below roughly 1 to 1.2 m, but the harbour means staying out of the channel and surfacing by the rocks. Alteirinhos needs a stricter window: swell around 1 m or less, low to mid tide, light wind and a shore check from above. The coast sits in the SW Alentejo and Vicentina Coast Natural Park, so confirm restrictions. Rules still apply: licence from age 16, apnea only, daylight only, Alfa buoy within 30 m and 15 kg daily limit.

FAQ

Where is the best spearfishing entry in Zambujeira do Mar?

Entrada da Barca is the practical choice because it is more sheltered and has a ramp, but it is an active fishing harbour.

Can you spearfish from the village beach?

Do not treat it as a main hunting spot. It is a bathing beach in season; use it only as a fallback or for reconnaissance away from swimmers.

Is Alteirinhos safe solo?

It is not a good solo choice with marginal swell. Access is steep, there is no support, and the rock exit can trap you if sets build.

What swell works for Zambujeira?

Entrada da Barca needs W/SW swell below about 1 to 1.2 m. Alteirinhos is stricter, around 1 m or less with light wind.

Is Zambujeira inside a protected coast?

Yes. It is within the SW Alentejo and Vicentina Coast Natural Park, so check local restrictions before hunting.

Sources

Region: Alentejo

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