SurfSeerMavericks, Half Moon Bay, CA · Coastal intelligence
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v2.0 · Best time to rideLive
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—/ 10
MAYBE
Mavericks, Half Moon Bay, CA · —
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Mavericks, Half Moon Bay, CA

MapLive · -

2h 37m of daylight left

Sunset at 1:31 AM

MAYBELoading forecast
-/ 10 · —

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  • Tide window opening

Conditions

Wave

—

Sweet spot 15–50 ft

Period

—

Sweet spot 16–22 s

Wind

—

Tide

Next · Low 05:39 AM

Session plan

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Mavericks, Half Moon Bay, CA
MAYBE

Next 12 hours

Today's read·Auto-generated from the forecast

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Next 5 days

Best window
DayBest windowScoreWavePeriodWind maxTemp
Spot intelWetsuit, hazards & notes
Not beginner-friendly today

Beginner basics

Where to go

There is no beginner area at Mavericks. This is a big-wave reef ridden only by invited pros on giant winter swells; it's tow-in territory above 30 feet. Watch from the cliffs at Pillar Point.

What to avoid

The lineup, the rocks, the entire reef. People die here. Even paddling out as a beginner risks your life and the lives of rescuers. Cold water, sharks documented, and sets clean up everything outside.

Best beginner conditions

Mavericks is never beginner-friendly. Try Pacifica's Linda Mar (just south) for a true California first session.

New to surfing? Read the beginner guide →

Wetsuit

Wetsuit

Fall setup

Season-based baseline. Water temp varies week to week.

Full guide

3/2 Fullsuit

Prime season—comfortable and flexible

4/3 Fullsuit

Late fall, especially with north winds

Spot notes

How this break works

Wave type
Big-wave reef — only ridden on giant winter swells
Best swell
Massive W–NW (long-period groundswell)
Best wind
E (offshore)
Best tide
All tides

Hazards

  • · LIFE-THREATENING — pros only
  • · Rocks
  • · Cold
  • · Sharks documented
  • · Tow-in territory above 30ft

Crowd

Low — restricted to invited big-wave surfers

Respect the lineup — etiquette.

Nearby breaks

Other spots within reach

If this one's flat — or just too crowded — these are the closest options worth checking.

18 mi

Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA

Heavy beachbreak — long paddle-out, powerful peaks

Check forecast→

46 mi

Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz, CA

Right-hand cliffside point — multiple sections (Indicator, Middle Peak, The Slot)

Check forecast→

48 mi

Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz, CA

Multi-section reef/cobblestone right — more mellow than Steamer Lane

Check forecast→

274 mi

Rincon, CA

World-class right-hand point — "Queen of the Coast"

Check forecast→

SurfSeerCoastal intelligence for surfers.