Scott Creek surf guide
Surf: A nice beach with occasional good surf. To the north, where the highway climbs the hill, is a thick righthand reefbreak. Several hollow sections during lower tides intersperse the fast, workable walls. It can hold up to nearly triple-overhead with a big NW swell, making Scott Creek a consistent winter attraction. The powerful beachbreak towards the south side of the beach is best during summer when small, clean, peaky swells stay hollow through the tide. The whole stretch is easily blown out.
Environment: Scott Creek features large, fin-grabbing bull kelp to contend with. The area has a nasty reputation for white shark sightings and attacks. Park by the road bridge where the creek makes its way west from the wetlands to the ocean.
Surf: General: Scott's Creek is a right reef that breaks anywhere from two-feet to 20, mostly in the winter. It can get big and burly, and the place will roll you to within an inch of your life if you screw up. The reef on the north end of the beach is the main attraction, but during the winter, the creek and the moving sand can create sandbars all up and down the beach. Scott's Creek also gets a lot of wind, so if you see sails, you probably won't be surfing.
Tides: Incoming to high
Size: Waist high-3X overhead
Wind: E or glassy
Swell: W, NW, SW
Bottom: Rock, sand
Paddling: Depends on size but generally a lot of paddling, especially when overhead.
Spot Rating: Quite good.
Access: Easy parking by side of highway, but watch yourself in the traffic.
Crowds: Crowd Factor: Sometimes high.
Local Vibe: Sometimes high.
Environment: Clean.
Hazards: Sharks, big surf, cold water, rock reef.
Season: January-December