Surf: Halfway between Galveston and Port Aransas, the Matagorda peninsula produces the best barrel in northern Texas. This wave is made possible by the deeper waters of the Colorado River inlet channel, focusing the swell onto shallow sandbars. Hard breaking beachies to the north of the pier but between the jetties on the north of the river and the southern jetty can all get classic with a decent swell and any N wind. Environment: Rips are strong around the rivermouth and the power of the waves suits intermediates upwards. Despite its quality the crowds are usually well spaced out between the 4 main spots. Surf: General: The water offshore at Matagorda is considerably deeper than anywhere else on the north coast, so pushy waves come up from the deeper waters to hit extremely shallow sandbars on the north side of the rivermouth. 'Gorda' offers more juice for the North Coast crew than any other spot. It is not uncommon for head-high waves to hollow out and grind across only a foot or two of water. These fast, dangerous, explosive peaks are your best chance for steep drops and true barrels. On big East swells there is also a good peak off the jetty on the southside of the river mouth. Access it by paddling across the river, watch for gators. Tides: Medium Size: Chest high to a few feet overhead Wind: N, NW or WNW with swell Swell: S, SE, E Bottom: Sand, but super shallow. Sandbars consisting of shells can be found farther north along the beach. Paddling: Drift sessions are the call with consistently strong longshore currents. Spot Rating: Most consistent and powerful waves on the upper Texas coast. Access: Easy, but remote. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Spread out unless surfing the S jetty with a small takeoff zone. Local Vibe: Relatively positive, though you should show respect to the locals. Environment: Always muddy brown from the river mouth. Hazards: Shallow bottom, gators if paddling the river. Season: Late summer/fall; late winter to mid-spring