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GhostFingers · NorCal Bay Area · Half Moon Bay

HMB Jetty

Sand-bottom beachbreak inside the Pillar Point breakwater in Half Moon Bay. The jetty shadow softens the open-coast swell. Peaks shift with the sandbars.

Half Moon Bay Famous + beginner-friendly

Spot intel

Parking

Paid lot at Pillar Point Harbor, walk-in to the beach. Free street parking along West Point Avenue when the lot's full.

Crowd

Moderate on weekends, thinner midweek. Mix of surf-school and intermediate locals. The inside-the-breakwater geometry keeps the wave manageable, which keeps the lineup spread.

Beginner-friendly?

Depends.

Sand bottom and a breakwater that takes the edge off the open-coast swell. On small days the wave opens up for confident beginners and intermediates. On larger swells the same wave gets steeper and the rip pulls toward the jetty. Not a novice wave then.

Lineup etiquette

Beachbreak priority is per-wave, not by lineup position. Standard rule: a wave already taken from the peak isn't open to paddle into.

When it's on

West or northwest groundswell with light offshore wind from the east. Mid-tide window. The breakwater means the wave is on more days than the open-coast spots up and down the same county.

When beginners can paddle out

Knee-high to chest-high on a mid tide with light wind. Hooded full suits are standard.

Where it breaks

Coordinates
37.5018, -122.4889
Shore faces
W
Region
Half Moon Bay, California

Common questions

What swell direction is best for HMB Jetty?
HMB Jetty works best on a W to NW swell.
How big does HMB Jetty need to be?
HMB Jetty is best in the 2-6ft range on a 11-18s period.
What are the best conditions at HMB Jetty?
Light or offshore wind under about 8 knots, with the tide around 1-4ft.
Where is HMB Jetty?
HMB Jetty is a forgiving jetty in Half Moon Bay, California. The beach faces W.
Does GhostFingers forecast HMB Jetty?
Yes. GhostFingers grades HMB Jetty with a six-tier verdict from swell height, period, direction, tide, and wind. iPhone, summer 2026.

New to reading a forecast? Start here.

Launching summer 2026.

Six-tier verdicts for every California break, calibrated to swell, period, direction, tide, and wind.

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