Saw this goin' off In mid June 03 and was pumpin on a med. North swell wrap around. Some body boarders were hoggin' the best spots and the rips were awful. Nice 4-8ft faces but it closed out a lot and those rocks certainly don't help. Beliche was a fun 2-3 ft round the corner so surfed it with about 4 others (a crowd). The tide for Tonel? Ask a local...
This beach picked up a swell when most others were poor or windswept. Only a brave man would ride at high - due to the rocks but worked well at low. A favourite with the locals. The wave was not particularly big, maybe 4-5 feet but that was the same for all beaches i surfed in september 03.
My first real experience of big waves. Back in February '93 myself and my best friend Joao Melo turned up at 5am to be greated by a 9 foot high wall of water. I got in and surfed like a man possessed! One of my best sessions ever!