Half Moon Bay Beach Conditions & Surf Report

Half Moon Bay is a coastside town south of San Francisco known for its rugged beaches, bluff-top state park, and proximity to Mavericks — the legendary big-wave surf break that draws the world's best surfers to giant winter swells. Its wide, wind-swept sand and cold, powerful Pacific make it more a place for walking, surfing, and scenery than casual swimming. This is the rugged Northern California coast: the water is cold year-round, sneaker waves and rip currents are a real danger, and the surf is powerful — check the safety flag above, never turn your back on the ocean, and swim only where and when it’s safe.