🇺🇸 HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA

Mavericks

Northern California's legendary big wave

FAIR

Live Conditions

Conditions Summary

Good 5ft waves — with 11s mixed swell — swell direction is wrong for this spot, expect poor shape — cross-onshore wind affecting quality — Note: this is outside the peak season for this spot

HIGH CONFIDENCEFresh buoy data + calibrated transformation

Why it's FAIR

Swell Direction

Primary swell is 195° — wrong angle. This spot needs 315° swells to break properly.

Swell Period

10s — solid groundswell. Waves will have real energy and organization.

Wind

8mph cross-shore — not ideal but surfable if wind is light

Tide

High tide — some spots get mushy at peak high

Season

September is off-season — rare for this spot to get quality waves

Data Confidence

Fresh buoy data with calibrated coastal transformation

At the Break

5.1ft

HIGH CONFIDENCE

Fresh buoy data + calibrated transformation

Period

10s

Mid-period

Wind

8mph

CROSS-SHORE

Water

61°F

3/2 wetsuit

Live Buoy 46012

3.3ft

10s

69 min ago

Tide

HIGH TIDE

6.2ft

Next high: in 7 min

Swell Direction

15%

Wind Direction

45%

Primary Swell

2.0ft @ 11.1s

SSW 195°

Secondary Swell

2.0ft @ 13.7s

SSW 213°

10 Day Outlook

3.5ft

TODAY

Sep 10

(17s)

4.3ft

TMRW

Sep 11

(16s)

5.1ft

SAT

Sep 12

(15s)

6.0ft

SUN

Sep 13

(8s)

6.0ft

MON

Sep 14

(9s)

6.0ft

TUE

Sep 15

(8s)

3.3ft

WED

Sep 16

(19s)

2.6ft

THU

Sep 17

(17s)

3.3ft

FRI

Sep 18

(19s)

4.7ft

SAT

Sep 19

(19s)

Best this week: SUN Sep 13 — 6.0ft

Best next week: SAT Sep 19 — 4.7ft

Model Breakdown

ECMWF (45%)4.6ft

ICON (35%)4.5ft

GFS (20%)3.3ft

Model confidence65%

Updated every 30 mins · Open-Meteo ECMWF + ICON + GFS

About

Mavericks is one of the most famous big wave spots in the world, breaking off Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay just south of San Francisco. Cold water, giant peaks, and a heavy hold-down make this a spot that commands serious respect.

The Break

The main Mavericks peak — outer bowl for the biggest sets, the channel for safety.

Ideal Conditions

NW swell 15ft+, light NE offshore winds, mid tide

Best Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Best months highlighted · Current: Sep

Trip Planner

NorCal Weekend

Weekend · 3 Days

Friday

Fly into SFO. Drive down to Half Moon Bay — 45min. Stay at the Half Moon Bay Inn. Dungeness crab dinner at Barbara's Fishtrap.

Saturday

Dawn patrol at Mavericks — watch from the cliff path if it is massive. Surf the beachbreak at Francis Beach if you want to get in the water. Drive up to San Francisco for the afternoon.

Sunday

Explore the coast — Pacifica beachbreak, Fort Funston. Fly home from SFO.

Northern California Coast Week

Full Week · 7 Days

Day 1

Arrive SFO, drive to Half Moon Bay.

Day 2

Mavericks watch or surf depending on your level. The view from the cliff is incredible regardless.

Day 3

Drive north — Ocean Beach SF, a punishing beachbreak for experienced surfers.

Day 4

Continue north — Bolinas, Stinson Beach. More mellow surf, beautiful scenery.

Day 5

Day in San Francisco — Golden Gate, Mission burritos, Tartine bakery.

Day 6

Drive south — Santa Cruz, Steamer Lane. Classic California pointbreak.

Day 7

Final session, drive back to SFO, fly home.

Local Knowledge

Mavericks is experts only — it is a life-threatening wave. Watch from the cliff path if in doubt.

The water is cold year round — 5/4mm wetsuit, boots, gloves, and hood in winter.

Half Moon Bay is a beautiful small town — great base for the NorCal coast.

The Mavericks surf contest (when it runs) draws the best big wave surfers in the world.

Parking at the trailhead fills up fast on good swell days — get there early.

Barbara's Fishtrap in Princeton-by-the-Sea is the best seafood in the area.