Surfing and Tides

Surfing and tides are also important to learn. For example, Linda Mar in Pacifica almost always has poor surf conditions on low tides. I have a fun on occasions with low tide, such as with offshore wind and small short period swell, but that is rare. High tide is generally the time to surf Linda Mar. Other surf spots can hold up on different conditions depending on swell direction, size, and wind. I have surfed Ocean Beach, San Francisco on just about all tides and had fun...or not. Low tide tends to produce more barrels but high tide can have longer rides, if not as powerful. Of course, Ocean Beach also has strong North and South current caused by the tides and the bay, but that is another issue.

The jetty in Half Moon Bay can be fun under any tide but it gets a little swamped with high tide. I generally prefer it around mid-tide. Fewer closeouts than low tide with some waves even south of the main peak.

Some beaches are just more tide sensitive than others, like Linda mar. At that beach it is generally true that it will suck at low tide regardless of swell and wind conditons...but I said that already, didn't I? Other beaches can hold up generally under most tides, even if some tides are better. Some beaches around here only work well on mid-low tides.

Surfing and Tides. Linda Mar - Pacifica, California at low tide. Smallish surf but would have been rideable (winds are offshore) at high tide.