Rockaway Beach

Edit spot

About

A hit or miss spot. Excellent when on with thick hooking lines. Often a swirling mess of currents and water.

It's never sunny and it's always cold so don't let the picture fool you. Try the Mexican resturant on the main Ave. Great food.

Atmosphere:
Rockaway can get big, very big. Paddling channel is to the SOUTH of the beach, the rip allows easy access to some very big, thick, and grinding waves on big days. DO NOT ATTEMPT to surf this place on a big day unless you KNOW what you're doing. I've seen too many bodies dragged out of the water here for my liking. Even if the waves are medium sized (8 feet +) you will get crushed out there. It is a small cove with ALOT of water rushing in, it needs somewhere to go- you WILL get caught in currents, be in shape. Us locals don't like risking ourselves to help you. Can't handle? Drive south a mile to Linda-Mar.

Additional Info:
Rockaway is a sick reef break. North end of beach off headland. 4ft and up. Best wave around when on.Parking free. No facilities.

Sharky, Cold, Currenty, and HEAVY. There are some ripping locals and some of them can get nasty... just be respectfull and know your limits.
Experienced surfers only, please.

There are really three waves, a left at the south end, a peak in the middle and a right at the north corner. Wave holds size and is juicey. Needs conditions to come together. Lots of power and thick lips. Not for beginners when cranking. the rockaway right at the north end gets good twice, maybe three times a year. Also the wave at the south end of the beach is a right that breaks into a deep channel, which is definitely much more consistent than the north end. The left that this poster talked about was probably the left that breaks off the rocks that the guy is surfing in the picture, and it never gets very good.

Location

Access

Off of Highway 1 but not at the Taco Bell, it is next cove to the north. Should be marked with a sign. End of Rockaway beach avenue.

Getting there
Walk
Instant access (<5 min)
Public access
Yes
4x4 required
Unknown
Boat required
Unknown
Wave characteristics
Type
Reef (rocky)
Direction
Right and left
Bottom
Sandy with rock
Power
Hollow, Powerful, Ledgey
Frequency
Regular (100 days/year)
Normal length
Short (<50m)
Good day length
Normal (50 to 150m)
Ideal conditions
Wind direction
Don't know
Swell direction
Don't know
Swell size
3ft-5ft - 10ft+
Tide
Low and mid tide
Tide movement
Rising and falling tides
Crowd
Week
Few surfers
Weekend
Crowded

Dangers

Rips / undertow, Rocks, Pollution, Sharks

Videos

None

Nearby spots

Linda Mar

0.78 miles away

Direction
Right and left
Bottom
Sandy
Frequency
Regular (100 days/year)

Linda Mar

0.86 miles away

Direction
Right and left
Bottom
Sandy with rock
Frequency
Regular (100 days/year)

Pedro Point

1.34 miles away

Direction
Left
Bottom
Boulders
Frequency
Sometimes breaks (50 days/year)