Humboldt Harbor Entrance Surf Guide

Humboldt Harbor Entrance Surf Guide

Because of Humboldt State University, Humboldt Bay is the hub of the county's surfing populace. With its crowds, academic university and attitudes, Arcata has been dubbed "the Santa Cruz of Northern California."

Like Santa Cruz, Arcata's Harbor, the Humboldt Bay harbor entrance, is one of the area's central surf spots. The Harbor Entrance, sandwiched between the North and South jetties, takes a massive swell to break. The entrance holds a wave upwards of 20 feet or so, but it's rideable anywhere from 6 feet on up. Access is granted by jumping off and clawing back onto the jetty. Since it's sand bottom, the shape varies, but when it's on, it's a Pipeline-like left and a steep, dredging right. How heavy is it? Well, the rights barrel into the boat channel that's 45 feet deep, which gives you an idea of the amount of water it's pushing. Surf it an hour before and up to an hour after low tide only or else get sucked out to sea. If you surf it on an incoming tide, you'll continually get sucked toward the bay and into the impact zone of every set.

It's the meanest wave around when it's on -- don't even think about trying it unless you've had positive experience in serious Hawaiian surf. Some people are now even trying tow-ins on the outside bar (parallel to the end of the jetties) when it's five or six times overhead.