Moss Landing
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate to Expert
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Moss Landing is a notably exposed beach break in Monterey that’s often working and can produce powerful, hollow waves. The spot breaks both left and right and is described as shelter-light, so conditions can turn intense quickly—especially when swell ramps up. Surfing is most closely associated with east winds acting offshore, which tends to clean up conditions. Pairing east offshore winds with a Northwest-to-W swell is highlighted as the best match for quality, with the classic target around mid tide when the tide is rising. This is an intermediate-to-expert kind of spot, primarily due to strong rip currents and the general difficulty of ocean access during bigger sets. Safety warnings emphasize rips, locals, and shark activity, with the area described as notorious for Great White sightings near a deep trench. Seasonally, winter is framed as the optimum time for surfing, with the strongest guidance pointing to a September through February firing period and January singled out as a best month in one spot guide. Water temperatures are cold (roughly 11–16°C across the year), so wetsuit planning is important throughout the season.
- Offshore east winds tend to provide the cleanest surf
- Often working exposed beach break with hollow barrel potential
- Best around mid tide (tide rising) and in winter
- Often working exposed beach break with offshore east winds improving cleanliness.
- Powerful, hollow waves with good potential for barrels when swell and wind align.
- Best window for surfing aligns with winter months.
- Heavy, exposed conditions and very strong rips/longshore currents are common.
- Cold water year-round and a notable Great White presence are major safety concerns.
- Conditions can be extremely dangerous on larger swells and paddling out can be difficult.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E
- Offshore directions
- E
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Easterly offshore winds; thermal/gradient patterns are reinforced locally by inland heating.
- Reliability
- 47% blown, 44% clean in January (monthly clean/blown percentages provided for January).
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- October, November, December, January, February
- Thermal Window
- Other · Afternoon · Months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec · Dir: N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW · Afternoon thermal reinforcement through the Moss Landing gap, often peaking from early afternoon into late afternoon (roughly 1:00–6:00 PM).
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Wave size described as small by one provider, while other details note heavy/powerful conditions on larger swells.
- Launch
- Medium — Sandy beach launch near the north or south jetties.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Launch/access described as difficult, especially in large swells.
Through the year
Sometimes crowded here, especially when conditions are perfect.
Winter months (December through March) see the most frequent storm activity and rain.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed beach break that is often working; breaks both left and right with powerful, hollow barrels. Works best with NW-W swell paired with east offshore winds.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NW
- Swell Height
- 4–10 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Best around mid tide when the tide is rising.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Largely exposed beach break; nearby jetties may provide minor protection from certain angles but the spot remains exposed.
- Wind Effect
- East winds are offshore and provide the cleanest conditions; other wind alignments can create heavy chop and closeouts.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds significant size, but paddling out becomes extremely dangerous and difficult when swell exceeds double overhead.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Quality described as excellent; also characterized as often working.
- Wave Power
- Very powerful — Very powerful, hollow barrels described especially on larger swells.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Hollow/barrel shape; also described as mixed.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Fast, vertical drops into short to medium barrel sections (ride/peel described as fast).
- Ride Length
- Medium — Medium ride length; fast vertical drops into barrel sections.
- Ride Length Details
- Fast, vertical drops into short to medium length barrel sections; can hold significant size and become extremely dangerous on very large swells.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Moss Landing in the full forecast view.
Moss Landing wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–10 ktsGusts 15 kts
- Direction
- WNW298°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 2810 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.8–1.4 m9s period
- Temperature
- 9–21 °C
Over the next 7 days, Moss Landing is forecast for daytime winds of 2–10 kts, peaking around 10 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 15 kts. The prevailing direction is WNW. Waves run 0.8–1.4 m with a period of about 9s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Great White Sharks
- Sharks
- Rip currents
- Heavy shore break
- Locals
- Cold water
- Shifting sandbars
- Jetty rocks
- Powerful ocean
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported for the beach/launch; rescue services described as limited in the region.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Regional coverage described as limited; Coast Guard presence at the harbor is noted, but no dedicated seasonal lifeguards/water rescue on surrounding state beaches.
- Emergency Info
- For emergencies dial 911. Nearest medical facilities mentioned: Watsonville or Monterey.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate
Rules of the spot
General awareness of locals; standard surfing etiquette applies.
- Beware of rips, locals and sharks.
- This spot is notorious for Great White sightings (noted as linked to nearby deep trench/congregation).
- Surf around mid tide when the tide is rising.
- Fire best from September through February.
- Check sandbars after big storms as they shift frequently.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Moss Landing
- Nearest Town
- Moss Landing
- Parking
- Public parking available at beach lots; fees may apply.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Limited motels in Moss Landing; more extensive lodging options in nearby Monterey and Santa Cruz.
- Food & Drink
- Several seafood restaurants and cafes are located within walking distance in the Moss Landing village area.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals available directly at the beach for surfing are reported; equipment rentals may exist via nearby shops in Monterey/Santa Cruz (especially for surf).
- Gear Repair
- No specialized kite/wing repair on-site is noted for the wider area; no surfing-specific repair mentioned for the beach.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The Moss Landing area is strongly oriented around coastal wildlife viewing and day trips around Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
One of California's largest wetlands, famous for sea otter sightings and bird watching.
A world-renowned marine education center and aquarium located on Cannery Row.
Boat tours departing from the harbor to view humpback whales, orcas, and dolphins at the canyon edge.
A local landmark famous for its cioppino and fresh Monterey Bay seafood.
Wide sandy beach popular for picnics, dunes exploration, and watching sea lions.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Moss Landing?
The best overall months at Moss Landing are January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. The best wind months are October, November, December, January, February.
Which wind directions work at Moss Landing?
Moss Landing works with E winds. Offshore directions are E.
What skill level is Moss Landing suitable for?
Moss Landing suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Expert.