Consistent and heavy beach break in northern Monterey County.
Under the twin prong towers of Moss Landing’s power plant, the beach break at Moss Landing State Beach almost always delivers the juice during the winter’s bigger west swells. With the mile-deep Monterey Canyon right offshore, the waves have lots of power when they hit the sandbars here.
During a big swell, the waves are smaller and more manageable at the south end of the beach near the jetty, while the breaks farther north draw the more hardcore crowd. These waves are frequently heavy and barreling.
Unfortunately, the local surf crowd here can be hostile to newcomers. I’ve seen a surf car parked on the paved state beach road that had been surf waxed on all the vehicle’s windows and even its side view mirrors. So be on your best behavior here if you’ve never been here before.
Also, you can check if the winds are offshore by looking at what direction the steam from the power plants are blowing.
GOOD FOR Surfers craving heavy winter surf.
NOT LOVED HERE Beginning surfers on soft-top surfboards.
YOUR MOM WOULD TELL YOU TO be careful out there. Moss Landing has incredibly powerful waves, mean rip currents and sometimes hostile locals.
IF YOU’RE LUCKY YOU’LL get a barrel that you will remember the rest of your life.
Stuart Thornton
