Neap tides don't occur at a specific time of year. They are caused by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon, and their occurrence is tied to the lunar phases.

Here's how it works:

* Spring tides: These occur during new and full moons when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align. The combined gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon creates higher high tides and lower low tides.

* Neap tides: These happen during the first and third quarter moons when the Sun, Moon, and Earth form a right angle. The Sun's gravity partially cancels out the Moon's gravity, resulting in smaller differences between high and low tides.

So, neap tides occur roughly twice a month, coinciding with the first and third quarter moon phases, regardless of the time of year.