CALIFORNIA / Gaviota edgeSPOT / 956

El Cap Beachbreak.

Beach / sandbar

Left & right34.459° N / 120.018° W

Color satellite and aerial imagery centered on the approximate El Cap Beachbreak catalogue location — Satellite / aerial view · centred on the approximate catalogue pin. Not live imagery.
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Approximate catalogue pin · check the actual shoreline. © OpenStreetMap contributors

Open El Cap Beachbreak on the map ↗Best surf near me

Forecast & tide at a glance

Estimated surf face · feet · Pacific time. The existing PureSurfers face-estimation engine; not a measured or calibrated breaking-wave report.

Estimated surf face2.8 ftForecast for Wed Nov 11, 6:00pm Pacific

Coastal wind2.9 mphSW from

NOAA tide reference0.0 ftMLLW · Santa Barbara

READ THE INDIVIDUAL SWELLS

Swell by swell.

Offshore component height (Hs), not surf-face height. Directions are where waves come from. Component heights do not add together.

Wed Nov 11, 6:00pm Pacific

GFS · 4 components

Primary swell

3.0ft Hs

WNW from · 282° · 12.6 s

3.0 feet

Wind sea

0.0ft Hs

No energy reported for this component

0.0 feet

Secondary swell

0.8ft Hs

SW from · 216° · 13.4 s

0.8 feet

Tertiary swell

0.0ft Hs

No energy reported for this component

0.0 feet

MFWAM · 2 components

Primary swell

4.5ft Hs

W from · 280° · 9.8 s

4.5 feet

Wind sea

0.0ft Hs

No energy reported for this component

0.0 feet

Each model supplies its own partitions. Missing components remain unavailable; another model’s primary swell is not automatically the same wave system.

Coastal wind retrieved Wed Nov 11, 6:30pm. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.

Source retrievals: GFS Nov 11, 6:30pm · ECMWF Nov 11, 6:30pm · MFWAM Nov 11, 6:30pm. Retrieval time is not the model issue time. This page combines all available cached model families; map model selections are separate.

Tide predictions: Santa Barbara, 30 km reference; retrieved Wed Nov 11, 12:45pm. Station predictions can differ locally.

Seven-day overview

06:00–19:00 forecast hours; daily values are not a full-day maximum.
Pacific day	Estimated surf face	Mean wind	Hours available
Wed Nov 11	2.8 ft	4.3 mph	14/14
Thu Nov 12	2.8 ft	9.1 mph	14/14
Fri Nov 13	4.0 ft	7.4 mph	14/14
Sat Nov 14	6.5 ft	5.4 mph	14/14
Sun Nov 15	3.8 ft	4.3 mph	14/14
Mon Nov 16	5.3 ft	2.5 mph	14/14
Tue Nov 17	3.8 ft	5.1 mph	14/14

Hourly details · next 72 hours

Pacific time	Estimated surf face	Model range	Set proxy	Swell from	Wind	Tide MLLW	Models
Wed 6:00pm	2.8 ft	1.8–4.0 ft	4.2 ft	WNW · 12.7 s	2.9 mph SW	0.0 ft	3
Wed 7:00pm	2.8 ft	1.8–3.9 ft	4.2 ft	WNW · 12.5 s	2.1 mph NNW	0.5 ft	3
Wed 8:00pm	2.7 ft	1.8–3.8 ft	4.0 ft	WNW · 12.4 s	0.8 mph NE	1.3 ft	3
Wed 9:00pm	2.6 ft	1.8–3.6 ft	3.9 ft	WNW · 12.3 s	3.3 mph NNW	2.2 ft	3
Wed 10:00pm	2.5 ft	1.6–3.5 ft	3.8 ft	WNW · 12.3 s	4.2 mph NW	2.9 ft	3
Wed 11:00pm	2.5 ft	1.6–3.4 ft	3.7 ft	WNW · 12.2 s	5.6 mph NNW	3.3 ft	3
Thu 12:00am	2.4 ft	1.6–3.3 ft	3.6 ft	WNW · 12.2 s	3.7 mph NNW	3.4 ft	3
Thu 1:00am	2.4 ft	1.6–3.3 ft	3.6 ft	WNW · 12.1 s	5.5 mph WSW	3.4 ft	3
Thu 2:00am	2.4 ft	1.7–3.2 ft	3.6 ft	WNW · 12.1 s	4.1 mph SW	3.2 ft	3
Thu 3:00am	2.5 ft	1.6–3.2 ft	3.8 ft	W · 12.2 s	4.9 mph SSW	3.0 ft	3
Thu 4:00am	2.5 ft	1.7–3.2 ft	3.8 ft	W · 12.2 s	5.2 mph SSW	3.0 ft	3
Thu 5:00am	2.5 ft	1.7–3.2 ft	3.8 ft	W · 12.2 s	4.9 mph SSW	3.3 ft	3
Thu 6:00am	2.4 ft	1.7–3.2 ft	3.6 ft	WNW · 12.2 s	4.8 mph S	3.7 ft	3
Thu 7:00am	2.5 ft	1.8–3.2 ft	3.7 ft	WNW · 12.2 s	5.3 mph SSE	4.3 ft	3
Thu 8:00am	2.5 ft	1.8–3.3 ft	3.8 ft	WNW · 12.2 s	7.4 mph SSE	4.9 ft	3
Thu 9:00am	2.6 ft	1.9–3.4 ft	3.9 ft	WNW · 12.2 s	8.9 mph SE	5.4 ft	3
Thu 10:00am	2.6 ft	2.0–3.4 ft	4.0 ft	WNW · 12.2 s	9.6 mph SSE	5.6 ft	3
Thu 11:00am	2.7 ft	2.0–3.5 ft	4.0 ft	WNW · 12.3 s	13.6 mph SSE	5.4 ft	3
Thu 12:00pm	2.8 ft	2.1–3.5 ft	4.1 ft	WNW · 12.4 s	12.5 mph S	4.8 ft	3
Thu 1:00pm	2.8 ft	2.2–3.6 ft	4.2 ft	WNW · 12.6 s	10.9 mph S	3.9 ft	3
Thu 2:00pm	2.9 ft	2.2–3.7 ft	4.3 ft	WNW · 12.7 s	9.4 mph S	2.8 ft	3
Thu 3:00pm	2.9 ft	2.3–3.7 ft	4.4 ft	WNW · 12.8 s	8.9 mph SSE	1.7 ft	3
Thu 4:00pm	3.0 ft	2.3–3.8 ft	4.5 ft	WNW · 13.0 s	8.8 mph SSE	0.8 ft	3
Thu 5:00pm	3.1 ft	2.5–3.8 ft	4.6 ft	WNW · 13.1 s	7.6 mph SE	0.2 ft	3
Thu 6:00pm	3.1 ft	2.5–3.9 ft	4.7 ft	WNW · 13.2 s	9.4 mph E	0.0 ft	3
Thu 7:00pm	3.2 ft	2.6–4.0 ft	4.8 ft	WNW · 13.4 s	10.3 mph ENE	0.3 ft	3
Thu 8:00pm	3.3 ft	2.6–4.1 ft	4.9 ft	WNW · 13.5 s	9.0 mph ENE	0.8 ft	3
Thu 9:00pm	3.4 ft	2.7–4.2 ft	5.1 ft	WNW · 13.6 s	9.4 mph E	1.6 ft	3
Thu 10:00pm	3.4 ft	2.7–4.3 ft	5.2 ft	WNW · 13.7 s	9.7 mph ESE	2.3 ft	3
Thu 11:00pm	3.5 ft	2.7–4.5 ft	5.3 ft	WNW · 13.6 s	10.4 mph E	2.9 ft	3
Fri 12:00am	3.6 ft	2.8–4.6 ft	5.4 ft	W · 13.5 s	12.2 mph E	3.2 ft	3
Fri 1:00am	3.7 ft	2.8–4.8 ft	5.5 ft	W · 13.3 s	12.4 mph ESE	3.4 ft	3
Fri 2:00am	3.8 ft	2.8–4.9 ft	5.7 ft	W · 13.2 s	12.1 mph ESE	3.3 ft	3
Fri 3:00am	3.9 ft	2.9–4.9 ft	5.8 ft	W · 13.1 s	10.2 mph E	3.2 ft	3
Fri 4:00am	4.0 ft	3.0–5.0 ft	6.0 ft	W · 13.0 s	10.2 mph ESE	3.2 ft	3
Fri 5:00am	4.0 ft	3.1–5.0 ft	6.0 ft	W · 12.9 s	13.0 mph E	3.3 ft	3
Fri 6:00am	4.0 ft	3.2–5.0 ft	6.0 ft	W · 12.8 s	9.5 mph ESE	3.5 ft	3
Fri 7:00am	4.0 ft	3.2–5.0 ft	6.0 ft	W · 12.8 s	13.2 mph E	4.0 ft	3
Fri 8:00am	4.0 ft	3.3–5.0 ft	6.0 ft	W · 12.7 s	9.6 mph E	4.5 ft	3
Fri 9:00am	4.0 ft	3.3–4.9 ft	6.0 ft	W · 12.7 s	8.6 mph E	4.9 ft	3
Fri 10:00am	4.0 ft	3.4–4.9 ft	5.9 ft	W · 12.6 s	10.2 mph E	5.2 ft	3
Fri 11:00am	4.0 ft	3.4–4.8 ft	6.0 ft	W · 12.6 s	14.0 mph SE	5.2 ft	3
Fri 12:00pm	4.0 ft	3.4–4.8 ft	6.0 ft	W · 12.6 s	7.8 mph ESE	4.9 ft	3
Fri 1:00pm	4.0 ft	3.5–4.8 ft	6.0 ft	W · 12.5 s	4.0 mph NNE	4.3 ft	3
Fri 2:00pm	4.0 ft	3.5–4.8 ft	6.0 ft	W · 12.4 s	3.4 mph WSW	3.4 ft	3
Fri 3:00pm	4.0 ft	3.5–4.9 ft	6.0 ft	W · 12.3 s	6.9 mph WSW	2.5 ft	3
Fri 4:00pm	4.0 ft	3.6–4.9 ft	6.0 ft	W · 12.2 s	5.7 mph SW	1.5 ft	3
Fri 5:00pm	4.0 ft	3.6–4.9 ft	6.1 ft	W · 12.0 s	4.6 mph SW	0.8 ft	3
Fri 6:00pm	4.1 ft	3.6–5.0 ft	6.1 ft	W · 11.9 s	3.1 mph SW	0.3 ft	3
Fri 7:00pm	4.1 ft	3.6–5.0 ft	6.1 ft	W · 11.7 s	2.9 mph SW	0.3 ft	3
Fri 8:00pm	4.2 ft	3.5–5.1 ft	6.2 ft	W · 11.5 s	1.6 mph SSW	0.5 ft	3
Fri 9:00pm	4.2 ft	3.5–5.3 ft	6.3 ft	W · 11.4 s	2.5 mph SSE	1.1 ft	3
Fri 10:00pm	4.3 ft	3.4–5.4 ft	6.4 ft	W · 11.4 s	2.6 mph WSW	1.7 ft	3
Fri 11:00pm	4.3 ft	3.4–5.6 ft	6.5 ft	W · 11.7 s	1.6 mph SSE	2.3 ft	3
Sat 12:00am	4.5 ft	3.4–5.8 ft	6.7 ft	W · 12.2 s	2.7 mph SSW	2.9 ft	3
Sat 1:00am	4.6 ft	3.4–6.0 ft	6.9 ft	WNW · 12.7 s	1.2 mph E	3.2 ft	3
Sat 2:00am	4.8 ft	3.4–6.3 ft	7.2 ft	WNW · 13.2 s	2.5 mph NNE	3.4 ft	3
Sat 3:00am	5.2 ft	3.5–6.6 ft	7.8 ft	WNW · 13.7 s	5.4 mph NW	3.4 ft	3
Sat 4:00am	5.5 ft	3.8–6.9 ft	8.2 ft	WNW · 14.1 s	6.9 mph NW	3.3 ft	3
Sat 5:00am	5.8 ft	4.1–7.2 ft	8.7 ft	WNW · 14.5 s	6.3 mph NW	3.3 ft	3
Sat 6:00am	6.0 ft	4.6–7.6 ft	9.0 ft	WNW · 14.9 s	6.1 mph NNW	3.5 ft	3
Sat 7:00am	6.2 ft	4.8–7.8 ft	9.3 ft	WNW · 15.2 s	5.9 mph NNW	3.7 ft	3
Sat 8:00am	6.5 ft	5.2–8.1 ft	9.7 ft	WNW · 15.4 s	5.4 mph NNW	4.0 ft	3
Sat 9:00am	6.6 ft	5.4–8.2 ft	9.8 ft	WNW · 15.6 s	4.9 mph NNW	4.4 ft	3
Sat 10:00am	6.7 ft	5.5–8.4 ft	10.0 ft	WNW · 15.8 s	4.3 mph NW	4.7 ft	3
Sat 11:00am	6.7 ft	5.6–8.5 ft	10.1 ft	WNW · 15.8 s	4.6 mph WNW	4.9 ft	3
Sat 12:00pm	6.8 ft	5.6–8.6 ft	10.2 ft	WNW · 15.8 s	5.2 mph WNW	4.8 ft	3
Sat 1:00pm	6.8 ft	5.6–8.7 ft	10.2 ft	WNW · 15.7 s	4.6 mph W	4.5 ft	3
Sat 2:00pm	6.8 ft	5.6–8.7 ft	10.2 ft	WNW · 15.6 s	4.8 mph WNW	3.9 ft	3
Sat 3:00pm	6.7 ft	5.5–8.6 ft	10.0 ft	WNW · 15.4 s	5.3 mph WNW	3.1 ft	3
Sat 4:00pm	6.6 ft	5.4–8.6 ft	9.9 ft	WNW · 15.2 s	6.8 mph WNW	2.3 ft	3
Sat 5:00pm	6.5 ft	5.4–8.5 ft	9.8 ft	WNW · 15.0 s	7.0 mph NW	1.5 ft	3
Sat 6:00pm	6.5 ft	5.4–8.5 ft	9.7 ft	WNW · 14.9 s	5.3 mph NNW	0.9 ft	3

Model spread is not a confidence interval. Tide and wind are context, not new corrections to surf size. Larger sets and changing hazards remain possible.

This page reads the shared cache first. Refresh requests only this spot’s existing regional samples.

Know the spot

The fickle sandbar inside the El Cap cove, distinct from the famous cobblestone point.

Also known as El Cap sandbar · Campground beachbreak.

Break type: Beach / sandbar
Wave direction: Left & right
Reported difficulty: Intermediate
Bottom: Sand with scattered rock
Reported swell preference: W–WNW with enough size
Reported tide preference: Sandbar-dependent; usually low–mid

Older local accounts remember a more legitimate beachbreak when the cove held more sand. Treat it as a moving target rather than a permanent takeoff.

Before paddling out: Shifting bars, shorebreak, rocks, campground traffic and state-park conditions.

El Capitan State Beach Approximate beach-zone pin

Source references

Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.

THE FIELD GUIDE / El Cap Beachbreak

Read this stretch of coast.

Follow the swell window

The catalogue’s reported preference for El Cap Beachbreak is “W–WNW with enough size”. Compare that description with each component’s incoming direction and period. An offshore swell number is a reference; the local wave still depends on the actual shoreline, bottom and tide.

Check the water level

Reported tide preference: Sandbar-dependent; usually low–mid. Follow the named NOAA station and its trend through your intended session, then inspect the entry and exit at the beach. A station prediction is not a water-level sensor at this takeoff.

Read the bottom and the lineup

Catalogue bottom: Sand with scattered rock. Reported difficulty: Intermediate. Watch several sets before choosing where to enter, keep clear of riders, and compare the actual wave with your ability and equipment.

A useful note for next time

Record the section you actually surfed, the time, incoming swell direction and period, wind and tide trend. Add what the wave did: connected sections, closeouts, drift or exposed obstacles. Comparing that observation with the same model next time is more useful than treating one colored number as the whole session.

Camera references nearby

No nearby camera reference in the current registry. The atlas camera layer may have other regional views.

Links to third-party camera pages, not owned feeds. Proximity does not confirm the camera sees this break. Playback and image freshness have not been verified by this page.

Make the next session easier

Lineup etiquette · Paddling technique · How these forecasts work

Nearby spots to compare

PureSurfers is built by Peter Ochabski. Spot profiles combine retained sources and contributor observations; this is not a claim he has surfed or verified every entry.

COASTAL WAVE GUIDANCE

Waves at the model cells

3.08–6.50 ft

Significant wave height (Hs) before the legacy spot reduction. This is not a measured breaking-face or set range.

Nearshore and buoy trends load here. Coverage and observation times are shown separately.