Santa Cruz swell exposure

Thinking of checking out Santa Cruz on Wednesday for the first time as everywhere else is looking pretty off limits, possibly at Mitchell's Cove. No wind but showing a 7 foot NW swell, curious how much of that swell will reach the reefs off of Mitchell's Cove/the lighthouse? Am I better off heading to Capitola?

Never launched out of Mitchell's cove; only the harbor for me in Santa Cruz. Based on Surfline showing a 9-foot swell at 9 seconds from 309 degrees (northwest) tomorrow, there may be some swell protection very close in but big rollers farther out. Swells are closer to 5 feet at Black's beach, which is right next to the harbor where those northwest swells are somewhat reduced. Fishable but likely to be a bit bouncy by the time you'd get half way out to the mile buoy.


Not an expert, but that's my $0.02. I really don't have a sense of how the forecasts play out in real life at Mitchell's cove.

Thinking of checking out Santa Cruz on Wednesday for the first time as everywhere else is looking pretty off limits, possibly at Mitchell's Cove. No wind but showing a 7 foot NW swell, curious how much of that swell will reach the reefs off of Mitchell's Cove/the lighthouse? Am I better off heading to Capitola?

Windy says 7' at 8 seconds, which would definitely not be fun. Since it's from the NW, you would get some protection from the full force of that, but I'm guessing it would still be pretty bumpy. There might be enough bumpiness so that the fish get lockjaw too. Also, I assume that you are aware of those evil stairs at Mitchell's Cove...

You might want to consider launching from the west side of the harbor (the "A" or "F" dock). You don't even have to go half way to the mile buoy to be in a halibut zone, and there are a few rockfish areas near there too (but, not as good for RF as Mitchell's).

Mitchels cove. Is that the area near the lighthouse? If so, I wouldn't consider it with all the traffic with surfers as well as high tides bumping up against the rock wall . Those stairs are no joke

The beach on the west side of the boardwalk is usually protected. Not sure of the ease of access. Santa Cruz harbor is the easiest.

New Brighton beach is a favorite but doesn't open gates till 8am. Other ways around that but I'm too old to be lugging around a kayak that far.

Thanks for the input all, think I'll save the long drive down to SC for more optimal conditions.