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Tunitas Creek - Break Data
Surf spot travel photo of Tunitas Creek
Description
South of Martin's Beach are eight miles of empty, unseen and inaccessible coast until Highway 1 dips down and crosses the bridge at Tunitas Creek. Glancing to your right, you'll see a long stretch of beach, with what looks to be a promising right point on the north end.

Tunitas Creek is the first in a number of faux surf spots you'll find heading south from Half Moon Bay toward Santa Cruz. What looks to be a perfect right point on the north end of the beach, isn't. Tunitas Creek is mostly beachbreaks through the middle. Much of the time, these beachbreaks are too big, too windy or something else is wrong with them. Occasionally, though, you'll catch a glimpse of a perfect A-frame in the middle of the beach. Then you have to figure out how to get down there.

Shark story number two: The local kids don't call this place "Don't Eat Us Creek" for nothing. In August of 1987, Santa Cruz surfer Craig Rogers had just paddled out at Tunitas Creek at seven in the morning and was rocking back and forth on his surfboard, when all of a sudden his board stopped rocking. He looked down and saw a big, black eye looking back at him. A white shark had clamped down on his board. Rogers spent a few terrified seconds absolutely convinced he was going to die. He spent the next few moments paddling like mad for shore. Rogers got out of all this with just a scratch on his hand. Don't Eat Us Creek, indeed.
-- Ben Marcus 		Best Tide:
beachbreak, so it varies
Best Swell Direction:
W, NW, SW
Best Size:
small to double overhead
Best Wind:
E
Perfect-O-Meter:
4 (1=Lake Erie; 10=Jeffreys Bay)
Bottom:
sand and rock
Ability Level:
intermediate to advanced
Bring Your:
anti-shark device, friends, hiking boots, rappelling rope
Best Season:
fall, winter, spring
Access:
not exactly sure
Crowd Factor:
Bring your own. You will want to have some people around to increase the odds
Local Vibe:
theme from Jaws
Bicep Burn:
5. Moderate. (1=1ft Waikiki; 10=15ft Ocean Beach)
Poo Patrol:
3. Minimal. Although any creek along here is a little suspect. (1=clean; 10=turds in the lineup)
Hazards:
loneliness, sharks, long walks in for nothing
 
Places To Eat
Head north to Half Moon Bay or south to Pescadero, or eat that Powerbar that's been sitting in your glove box for the past six months.
Places To Stay
Head back to Half Moon Bay

Or try
Things To Do
If you're not into beachcombing, you're outta luck.
Surf Shops
The nearest one is in Half Moon Bay
Surf Schools
Listings for surf schools in California

Find a surf shop or a surf school in your area.
Have a correction, update or addition for this spot? Contact us at travel@surfline.com