Mavericks is a world-famous big-wave reef at Pillar Point, and it is strictly for expert big-wave surfers. The wave breaks over boulders, opening with an incredibly hollow, jacking take-off in front of a series of house-sized rocks known as The Boneyard, then reeling into a long, huge wall that ends in a deep channel. It is primarily a right, though a few brave surfers have ridden the lefts. This is one of the biggest, scariest waves in the world, scoured by heavy currents and studded with lethal rocks on the inside impact zone. It has already claimed the lives of big-wave surfers Mark Foo and Sion Milosky and a kayaker, and there have been two reported shark attacks here, both non-fatal.
When It Works
Mavericks draws swell from west through northwest, with northwest swell the best match. It is usable from 3.7 m / 12 ft to 9.1 m / 30 ft, starting to show around 12 feet when the gnarled inside double-up known as Phlegm Balls begins breaking, before proper Mavs starts sucking in swells of all sizes and never closes out. Consistency can be a little hit or miss, so it pays to wait for the right window.
Wind and Tide
Look for east offshore wind. It works on low and mid tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is an expert-only big-wave arena and no place to test yourself. Expect a busy lineup when it is breaking.
Access
The best access is by 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, then paddle roughly 40 minutes around the boneyard to the lineup. Mavericks sits inside the federally protected Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, where regulations prohibit motorized personal watercraft. A seasonal zone now allows tow-in surfing in December, January, and February, but only when the National Weather Service declares a high-surf warning, which limits its use on moderate-sized days.
