Overview
Mavericks is a world-famous big-wave reef at Pillar Point for expert big-wave surfers only. It is primarily a right, though the left has been ridden by a few brave surfers.
The wave starts with an incredibly hollow, jacking take-off in front of house-sized boulders known as The Boneyard, then runs into a long, huge wall ending in a deep channel.
When It Works
Mavericks breaks over boulders and takes west to northwest swell, with northwest as the optimal swell direction. It is usable from 3.7 m / 12 ft to 9.1 m / 30 ft.
It is somewhat inconsistent. At the lower end, the inside double-up known as Phlegm Balls can be breaking before proper Mavericks starts drawing in bigger swells.
Wind and Tide
The offshore wind direction is east. Low and mid tide are the relevant tides here, and a rising tide is better.
Local Tips
This is one of the biggest and scariest waves in the world, with heavy currents and lethal inside rocks if you get dragged through the impact zone. It has claimed the lives of big-wave surfers Mark Foo and Sion Milosky, as well as a kayaker.
There have also been two reported shark attacks here, both non-fatal. The lineup is busy, and the wave is for expert big-wave surfers only.
Access
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 about 40 minutes around The Boneyard to the lineup.
Mavericks is inside the federally protected Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Motorized personal watercraft are prohibited, though a seasonal zone allows tow-in surfing in December, January, and February when the National Weather Service declares a high-surf warning.
