Page 37 - California Diving and Surfing

Los Padres National Forest SanSanta Ynez Mountains SIDE 1

Rd.Ventura CountyFranko’s Map of

GAVIOTA Pass Rd.
Marcos
101 SIDE 2
120’ Santa Barbara County
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Arroyo Burro Beach ParkAve SURFING
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POINT MOLINO CANYON & TALIGUAS The last spots the general 300’ 225 Rd. County Line Lake
public gets to surf before Jalama and T's. 600’ Pt. 192 Casitas Pass Casitas

THE RANCH Access to this area of coast is heavily restricted. The only people with REFUGIO STATE BEACH Uncrowded by virtue of the mushyness of Castillo CARPINTERIA
land access guard their breaks with such fervor, only a select few get the opportunity to the beach break. Camp here, surf somewhere else unless you want
sample some of its numerous treasures. Without an open from one of the local regulars, family fun or are a beginner with a longboard. State Beach RPainrkMcoU(nLSIPSToEiTnLPLtuESntHRaOIGHNRAooirCObLndOscSFoLooNFnnARF)CPAAaoHrRMuCknIOPwtAOSyBaySPCNaOCOraNkCUm’NpSHgTSrIYoEuTnPAdAARKCLIFF 150
the only option is to boat in. The boats crowds, however, have grown so thick that the Rincon
regulars can no longer harrass you straight out of this multitude of world-class waves along EL CAPITAN STATE BEACH When it is breaking, which isn’t often, El Carpinteria Beach
this pristine stretch of coast. Conditions ebb & flow with the ever changing tides and swells. Capitan is a classic right point. On a huge W swell El Capitan spits out long,
This is a sampling of what surfing opportunites The Ranch has to offer: GOVERNMENT steep rights that bowl practically forever. If you’re fortunate enough to be
POINT, a long rocky point right; PERKO'S, a crowded summer break; COJO POINT, in the right place at the right time you might score some of the greatest rides
& COJO REEF, may be the area's best rights, up to double-overhead on a Baja Hurricane of your life. Oh yeah, a few grumpy, stubborn locals will try to ruin your day,
S swell; ST. AUGUSTINE'S, a point and reef break with head-high hollow rights and lefts so exercise caution. Best Season: Fall, Winter/Direction: W/Size: 4'-8'/
in summer, and fun wrapping swells in winter; DRAKES REEF & DRAKES POINT still-local- Tide: Low/Wind: NW/Bottom: Rock/Rating: Advanced. Camping available.
ized even in this crowded era, because it is a fine right peak that works all the way up to
10'+, and clean, long rights off of the point that can go double overhead or better; RAZOR ED’S Tiny takeoff zone crowds the surfers, but the wave is a steep, hollow
BLADES the very beginning of The Ranch, which works on winter's consistent swells. Beach right that can scream on a good day. A few violent locals think they own the
rocks are sharp (like "Razor Blades"). Caution: Boating in can be risky, especially out as far place, so travelers beware.

NAPLES Beach break two miles up from Hollister Ave. Shifing small points
and rocky reefs beneath. Likes a west swell. Good vibe with UCSB's surfers.

as Government Point. HASKERS BEACH Fickle beach break that has the dubious distinction as
being the only place in the U.S. to be torpedoed by the Japanese Empire
during WWII.
TARANTULAS “T’S” often has the best shape in the area. A juicy reef on the DEVEREAUX POINT (COAL OIL POINT) Very similar to Campus Point, Coal
south end of the beach. Best Season: Fall/Direction: W/Size: 3'-10'/Tide: High - Oil Point is a long, sectiony right with a peaceful local vibe. Good call if every-
Medium/Wind: E/Bottom: Sand, Rock/Rating: Advanced. where else is zooed.

JALAMA Jalama is a freezing cold beachbreak/reef combo that draws SANDS Just north of Devereaux is one of the most consistent breaks in RINCON Rincon is arguably the best wave in California so it’s no surprise that it is also
swells from any direction. During the summer Jalama is a hotbed for Santa Barbara. Sands is a series of sand-bars that comes to life during a peaky the most crowded. During a solid west groundswell Rincon sets up like a dream as steep,
neglected Santa Barbara surfers looking for anything to stand up on. windswell. The sheer length of the beach acts as a crowd-filter. Popular with
This wave works best with crossed up lines from the west forming semi- the college surf crowd. Intermediate.
hollow peaks. Jalama is a fair bit out of the way down a winding, narrow
road but in the summer it’s one of the few waves available. ISLA VISTA BEACH (IV) Fickle shorebreak, but outside reefs have potential.

CAMPUS POINT An epic right-hand point right in front of UCSB, capable of ledgy walls propel themselves down the line in unison. Most of the year Rincon is domi-
producing long, carving rights with the right swell. Usually it is divided into
several distinct take-offs but like most points in Santa Barbara, if you give it a nated by a cobblestone bottom, but during the winter the far inside section known as

Migrating Gray Whale low tide & solid groundswell expect two or three hundred rides to be the norm. "THE COVE" fills in with sand and offers unforgettable barrels. Rincon is divided into
three main take-offs:
Best Season: Fall/Direction: W/Size: 3'-8'/Tide: Low/Wind: NE/Bottom:
Santa Barbara ChannelRock/Intermediate. Student crowd. THE INDICATOR The top of the point. The Indicator is the largest spot at Rincon
VENTURA & SANTA BARBARA SURFING SEASON OVERVIEW: POLES Just down from Campus Point, Poles is a mushy reef break that & probably the slowest as well, but still often provides a great ride. Its outside
goes right and left. exposure makes it more susceptible to afternoon winds, so surf early.
WINTER Consistent west and northwest swells pound Ventura and Santa Barbara THE RIVERMOUTH An extremely hollow section accentuates the line. Roughly half
during the winter making it the optimal time to score overhead perfection. Whether SCALE GOLETA BEACH Good shorebreak for bodyboarding college crowd. of the waves that march through this area will outrace you but if you do make it
you’re sampling one of the area’s world-class pointbreaks or dropping into one of the 5 Occassionally waves peel off from the pier. Takes N to NW swells. through to The Cove your efforts will be rewarded. The Rivermouth is probably the
area’s sick A-frame beachbreaks, winter makes it all possible. If there’s a swell 0 10 Easy hike to breaks to the west from the free parking here. least crowded option at Rincon only because most people prefer to sit in The Cove.
Miles
0 5 HOPE RANCH Off of Las Palmas Dr., access is hampered by private property. THE COVE The most congested and flawless wave imaginable, The Cove has it all.
10 It is a mediocre or worse beach break, so the best bet may be elsewhere. On large W swells & minus tides the sand covered bottom at The Cove churns out
disgusting, gurgling brown barrels with every water molecule accounted for. The Cove
pulsing through do yourself a favor and make the drive… it’s worth it. Kilometers 1800’ HENDRY'S (ARROYO BURO BEACH) Located at Liff Drive. Bodyboarders is what you used to draw in your notebooks at school, it is every surfer’s dream wave.
SPRING Post-winter surfing in Ventura and Santa Barbara is a lesson in patience. Boundary of Channel Islands love this closed-out shorepound. Channel windswells can create peakiness. Best Season: Fall, Winter/Direction: W, NW/Size: 3'-10'/Tide: Low/Wind: E/
Late-season west and northwest swells are still around, but their smaller size and Facilities & food nearby. Bottom: Sand, Cobblestone/Rating: Advanced/Daily Surf Report
noticeable decline in power make it more difficult to find a suitable location to surf. BACKSIDES Off the north parking lot at Rincon, this is a shallow left on Rincon's outer
The brutal afternoon onshore winds make the water temperature and overall SANDSPIT Extremely challenging right-hand barrel over a ridiculously shallow point. South swells generate waves to head-high, but it is way crowded with the Rincon
conditions unstable at best. sandbar. It only breaks during macking winter swells and even though it may look crowd spill-over.
easy to ride, the reality is quite the opposite. If it is breaking expect elbow to
National Marine Sanctuary elbow crowds for Santa Barbara’s most fickle oddity. Get in early and go fast. CARPINTERIA STATE BEACH Beachbreak is not much of a destination for surfers,
at 6 Miles Offshore Best Season: Fall, Winter/Direction: W/Size: 3'-6'/Tide: Low/Wind: N/ even though the parking, scenery and camping are all superlative. If and when it ever
SUMMER Unless you have access to The Ranch most surfers in Santa Barbara & Bottom: Sand/Rating: Expert. Note: The U.S. Coast Guard frowns on riding into does get good, the locals try to guard it.
Ventura do a lot of traveling during the summer months because of swell blockage the channel.
from the Channel Islands. However, despite this unfortunate situation, most of the
breaks in Ventura County are still capable of serving up a few decent waves during a LEADBETTER Long board wave on outside, shortboards and bodyboards TAR PITS At the south end of Carpinteria State Beach, Tar Pits is a moderate beach
south or southwest swell. on inside beach break. Super popular and everyone is welcome. Sandy bottom. break occupied by numerous reefs. A popular family spot, Tar Pits is a mellow alternative
to the majority of the Santa Barbara surfing scene.

FALL Summer’s depressing hibernation is finally over. Early season west and 600’ SERENA POINT: A fickle point that gets decent a few times each year.
northwest swells combine with mild air temperatures & offshore winds to produce SHARK'S COVE (FERNALD POINT) Access is the problem for this screaming
some of the best waves you’ll ever see, yet alone surf. Whether you’re surfing one 300’ overhead right during a big W or NW swell. The long hike is via private land.
of Ventura’s fabled beachbreaks or Santa Barbara’s points you won’t be disappointed. 240’
180’ MIRAMAR Quick rights to chest high, might be best for bodyboarders.
For details refer to 120’ By beach hotel.
Franko's Map of
Boundary of HAMMONDS A rock bottom right with a superlative end bowl section. It Common Dolphin
Channel Islands National Park Channel Islands takes a large swell to squeak in here but it can be worth it if you’re lucky to
& National Marine Sanctuary National Park catch it breaking. Surfers beware, Hammonds is heavily guarded by a core
Cuyler Harbor at 1 Mile Offshore group of locals who habitually check it, but it still gets plenty crowded.
Prince Island
CHINESE HARBOR It’s hard to get to, there are no surfing reports,
and there sure aren’t any lifeguards, but the rumor is that Chinese
Harbor has a great break on Winter’s NW swells, if you are lucky
enough to get there at the exact moment.

Point Bennett 60’ Scorpion Anchorage
Smuggler’s
Cardwell PASSAGE SANTA CRUZ Forney’s Chinese Cove ANACAPA PASSA GE
Point MIGUEL CHAN Cove Harbor West Anacapa
San Miguel Island Island
SAN Sandy Becher’s East Anacapa
Point Bay NEL Island

For more fabulous Franko’s Surfing Maps, visit: Middle Anacapa
www.frankosmaps.com Island

Anacapa Island

Channel Islands National Park Santa Cruz Island
& National Marine Sanctuary

Santa Rosa Island Pacific Ocean

Visit Franko at www.frankosmaps.com Santa Cruz Basin