Surf Forecast  Mavericks

Mavericks surfspot characteristics

More about Mavericks surfspot

World-famous, big-wave reef at Pillar Point for expert big-wave surfers only. Primarily a right, although the lefts have been ridden by a few brave men. Starts with an incredibly hollow, jacking take-off in front of a series of house-sized boulders known as “The Boneyard” and is followed by a long, huge wall ending in a deep channel. Starts to work at 12 feet, when the gnarled inside double-up known as Phlegm Balls will be breaking, before proper Mavs starts sucking in all size swells and never closes-out.

One of the biggest, scariest waves in the world scoured by heavy currents and peppered with lethal rocks on the inside if you get dragged through the impact zone. This wave has already claimed the lives of big-wave surfers Mark Foo, Sion Milosky and a kayaker. There have been two reported shark attacks here, both non-fatal. Best access is via boat from Princeton Harbor. Otherwise, park south of Pillar Point and follow the footpath through the James Fitzgerald Marine Reserve past the harbor to a small beach protected by the north jetty. From here, paddle for 40mins around the boneyard to the line-up. Mavericks is part of the federally protected Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, where regulations prohibit "motorized personal watercraft" although a new seasonal zone was established to allow tow-in surfing at Mavericks in December, January and February. The caveat is that the watercraft can only be used when the National Weather Service declares a high-surf warning, impacting water safety on moderate sized days.