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PURESURFERSLIVE SURF ATLAS
CALIFORNIA / Gaviota edgeSPOT / 428

Poison Oak.

Localized reef / point

Direction not consistently documented34.459° N / 120.045° W
Color satellite and aerial imagery centered on the approximate Poison Oak catalogue locationSATELLITE / N ↑
Satellite / aerial view · centred on the approximate catalogue pin. Not live imagery.
Powered by Esri · Esri, Vantor, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community.
CLOSE-UP / N ↑
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Approximate catalogue pin · check the actual shoreline. © OpenStreetMap contributors
Open Poison Oak 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 face1.3 ftForecast for Thu Oct 22, 1:00pm Pacific
Coastal wind7.3 mphSSW from
NOAA tide reference1.7 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.

Thu Oct 22, 1:00pm Pacific

GFS · 4 components
Primary swell
1.6ft Hs

W from · 262° · 8.4 s

1.6 feet
Wind sea
2.1ft Hs

WSW from · 246° · 5.2 s

2.1 feet
Secondary swell
1.0ft Hs

WSW from · 238° · 10.4 s

1.0 feet
Tertiary swell
0.7ft Hs

S from · 191° · 16.0 s

0.7 feet
MFWAM · 2 components
Primary swell
2.3ft Hs

W from · 276° · 7.5 s

2.3 feet
Wind sea
0.3ft Hs

SE from · 130° · 1.6 s

0.3 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 Thu Oct 22, 12:30pm. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.

Source retrievals: GFS Oct 22, 1:00pm · ECMWF Oct 22, 12:45pm · MFWAM Oct 22, 1:00pm. 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, 33 km reference; retrieved Thu Oct 22, 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 dayEstimated surf faceMean windHours available
Thu Oct 221.3 ft6.0 mph14/14
Fri Oct 231.8 ft16.1 mph14/14
Sat Oct 241.5 ft5.1 mph14/14
Sun Oct 251.1 ft4.1 mph14/14
Mon Oct 261.1 ft4.5 mph14/14
Tue Oct 271.4 ft4.1 mph14/14
Wed Oct 281.4 ft3.4 mph14/14
Hourly details · next 72 hours
Pacific timeEstimated surf faceModel rangeSet proxySwell fromWindTide MLLWModels
Thu 1:00pm1.3 ft1.0–1.7 ft2.0 ftWSW · 9.5 s7.3 mph SSW1.7 ft3
Thu 2:00pm1.2 ft0.9–1.7 ft1.9 ftWSW · 9.4 s9.7 mph W1.5 ft3
Thu 3:00pm1.3 ft1.1–1.7 ft1.9 ftWSW · 9.2 s4.2 mph WSW1.7 ft3
Thu 4:00pm1.2 ft0.8–1.7 ft1.8 ftWSW · 9.0 s7.0 mph W2.3 ft3
Thu 5:00pm1.2 ft1.0–1.7 ft1.8 ftWSW · 8.9 s1.3 mph SSE3.1 ft3
Thu 6:00pm1.2 ft0.9–1.7 ft1.8 ftWSW · 8.8 s6.7 mph WSW3.9 ft3
Thu 7:00pm1.2 ft0.9–1.7 ft1.8 ftWSW · 8.7 s6.1 mph NE4.5 ft3
Thu 8:00pm1.1 ft0.8–1.7 ft1.7 ftWSW · 8.6 s4.6 mph WSW4.6 ft3
Thu 9:00pm1.2 ft0.8–1.7 ft1.8 ftWSW · 8.4 s12.1 mph NW4.4 ft3
Thu 10:00pm1.2 ft0.9–1.7 ft1.8 ftWSW · 8.3 s11.8 mph NNW3.6 ft3
Thu 11:00pm1.3 ft1.0–1.8 ft1.9 ftW · 8.2 s8.2 mph NW2.7 ft3
Fri 12:00am1.3 ft1.1–1.8 ft2.0 ftW · 8.2 s9.5 mph NNW1.8 ft3
Fri 1:00am1.4 ft1.1–1.8 ft2.1 ftW · 8.3 s10.0 mph NNW1.1 ft3
Fri 2:00am1.4 ft1.2–1.8 ft2.1 ftW · 8.3 s8.5 mph NW0.8 ft3
Fri 3:00am1.5 ft1.2–1.9 ft2.2 ftW · 8.3 s11.1 mph NW1.1 ft3
Fri 4:00am1.5 ft1.2–1.9 ft2.2 ftW · 8.2 s9.1 mph NW1.8 ft3
Fri 5:00am1.5 ft1.1–2.0 ft2.2 ftW · 8.2 s14.1 mph NNW2.9 ft3
Fri 6:00am1.6 ft1.2–2.0 ft2.4 ftW · 8.2 s16.3 mph N4.0 ft3
Fri 7:00am1.6 ft1.2–2.1 ft2.4 ftW · 8.1 s17.9 mph N4.8 ft3
Fri 8:00am1.5 ft0.9–2.2 ft2.3 ftW · 8.1 s17.7 mph N5.3 ft3
Fri 9:00am1.7 ft1.1–2.2 ft2.5 ftW · 8.2 s18.5 mph NNW5.2 ft3
Fri 10:00am1.8 ft1.4–2.2 ft2.7 ftW · 8.3 s14.9 mph N4.5 ft3
Fri 11:00am1.8 ft1.5–2.3 ft2.7 ftW · 8.3 s12.3 mph N3.6 ft3
Fri 12:00pm1.8 ft1.3–2.3 ft2.7 ftW · 8.2 s13.3 mph NNW2.4 ft3
Fri 1:00pm1.8 ft1.3–2.3 ft2.7 ftW · 8.0 s12.2 mph NNW1.5 ft3
Fri 2:00pm1.8 ft1.4–2.3 ft2.7 ftW · 7.9 s14.3 mph NNW0.9 ft3
Fri 3:00pm1.8 ft1.4–2.4 ft2.7 ftW · 7.7 s13.3 mph NW0.9 ft3
Fri 4:00pm1.8 ft1.4–2.4 ft2.6 ftW · 7.5 s13.2 mph NNW1.3 ft3
Fri 5:00pm1.8 ft1.4–2.5 ft2.7 ftW · 7.4 s17.6 mph NNW2.1 ft3
Fri 6:00pm1.9 ft1.5–2.5 ft2.9 ftWNW · 7.4 s22.8 mph N3.1 ft3
Fri 7:00pm2.0 ft1.5–2.5 ft2.9 ftWNW · 7.4 s21.1 mph NNW4.0 ft3
Fri 8:00pm1.9 ft1.4–2.6 ft2.9 ftWNW · 7.6 s17.8 mph N4.5 ft3
Fri 9:00pm1.9 ft1.3–2.5 ft2.8 ftWNW · 7.8 s14.1 mph N4.6 ft3
Fri 10:00pm1.8 ft1.2–2.5 ft2.8 ftWNW · 8.1 s10.5 mph N4.2 ft3
Fri 11:00pm1.9 ft1.3–2.4 ft2.8 ftWNW · 8.3 s6.3 mph N3.4 ft3
Sat 12:00am1.8 ft1.3–2.3 ft2.7 ftWNW · 8.5 s3.7 mph NNW2.4 ft3
Sat 1:00am1.8 ft1.3–2.3 ft2.7 ftW · 8.7 s1.6 mph NE1.6 ft3
Sat 2:00am1.8 ft1.2–2.3 ft2.6 ftW · 8.9 s1.8 mph NNE1.1 ft3
Sat 3:00am1.7 ft1.2–2.2 ft2.6 ftW · 9.0 s3.5 mph WNW1.1 ft3
Sat 4:00am1.7 ft1.2–2.2 ft2.6 ftW · 9.1 s4.5 mph S1.7 ft3
Sat 5:00am1.7 ft1.2–2.1 ft2.5 ftW · 9.2 s5.1 mph NE2.7 ft3
Sat 6:00am1.7 ft1.1–2.1 ft2.5 ftW · 9.3 s5.6 mph NNE3.8 ft3
Sat 7:00am1.6 ft1.1–2.1 ft2.4 ftW · 9.3 s5.4 mph NNE4.9 ft3
Sat 8:00am1.6 ft1.1–2.0 ft2.4 ftW · 9.4 s4.8 mph NNE5.6 ft3
Sat 9:00am1.6 ft1.0–2.0 ft2.3 ftW · 9.4 s2.9 mph NNE5.7 ft3
Sat 10:00am1.6 ft1.0–2.0 ft2.3 ftW · 9.4 s1.2 mph WNW5.2 ft3
Sat 11:00am1.5 ft1.0–2.0 ft2.3 ftW · 9.4 s3.5 mph SW4.2 ft3
Sat 12:00pm1.5 ft0.9–2.0 ft2.3 ftW · 9.4 s4.9 mph SW2.9 ft3
Sat 1:00pm1.5 ft0.9–2.0 ft2.2 ftW · 9.4 s6.0 mph SW1.7 ft3
Sat 2:00pm1.5 ft0.9–2.0 ft2.2 ftW · 9.3 s6.8 mph WSW0.7 ft3
Sat 3:00pm1.5 ft0.9–2.0 ft2.2 ftW · 9.1 s7.5 mph WSW0.3 ft3
Sat 4:00pm1.5 ft1.0–1.9 ft2.2 ftW · 8.8 s7.7 mph WSW0.4 ft3
Sat 5:00pm1.5 ft1.0–1.9 ft2.2 ftW · 8.5 s6.7 mph WSW1.1 ft3
Sat 6:00pm1.4 ft1.0–1.9 ft2.2 ftW · 8.4 s4.0 mph W2.1 ft3
Sat 7:00pm1.4 ft1.0–1.9 ft2.1 ftW · 8.3 s4.7 mph NNW3.2 ft3
Sat 8:00pm1.4 ft1.0–1.9 ft2.1 ftW · 8.2 s6.1 mph N4.0 ft3
Sat 9:00pm1.4 ft1.1–1.8 ft2.1 ftW · 8.3 s6.2 mph N4.5 ft3
Sat 10:00pm1.4 ft1.1–1.8 ft2.1 ftW · 8.5 s5.7 mph N4.5 ft3
Sat 11:00pm1.4 ft1.1–1.7 ft2.1 ftW · 8.6 s5.5 mph N3.9 ft3
Sun 12:00am1.4 ft1.1–1.7 ft2.0 ftW · 8.7 s5.6 mph N3.1 ft3
Sun 1:00am1.3 ft1.0–1.6 ft2.0 ftW · 8.8 s5.4 mph N2.2 ft3
Sun 2:00am1.3 ft0.9–1.6 ft1.9 ftW · 8.8 s5.3 mph NNE1.6 ft3
Sun 3:00am1.2 ft0.8–1.6 ft1.8 ftW · 8.9 s5.0 mph NNE1.3 ft3
Sun 4:00am1.2 ft0.8–1.5 ft1.8 ftW · 9.0 s4.7 mph NNE1.7 ft3
Sun 5:00am1.2 ft0.7–1.5 ft1.7 ftW · 9.0 s4.3 mph NNE2.5 ft3
Sun 6:00am1.2 ft0.7–1.5 ft1.7 ftW · 9.1 s4.1 mph NNE3.6 ft3
Sun 7:00am1.1 ft0.7–1.5 ft1.7 ftW · 9.1 s4.2 mph NNE4.8 ft3
Sun 8:00am1.1 ft0.7–1.5 ft1.7 ftW · 9.2 s4.2 mph NNE5.7 ft3
Sun 9:00am1.1 ft0.7–1.5 ft1.7 ftW · 9.2 s2.5 mph NE6.1 ft3
Sun 10:00am1.1 ft0.7–1.5 ft1.7 ftW · 9.1 s1.7 mph SSE5.9 ft3
Sun 11:00am1.1 ft0.7–1.5 ft1.6 ftW · 9.1 s3.6 mph SSW5.0 ft3
Sun 12:00pm1.1 ft0.7–1.5 ft1.6 ftW · 9.1 s4.1 mph SSW3.7 ft3
Sun 1:00pm1.1 ft0.6–1.4 ft1.6 ftW · 9.2 s4.9 mph SSW2.2 ft3

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

A long-standing Gaviota local name included at corridor scale rather than omitted as “secret.”

Also known as Poison Oaks · Poison Oak Point.

Break type
Localized reef / point
Wave direction
Direction not consistently documented
Reported difficulty
Advanced / local knowledge
Bottom
Reef / rock
Reported swell preference
W-window; local knowledge matters
Reported tide preference
Not reliably documented

The name is corroborated in local-history and surfer accounts, but public sources do not resolve a defensible exact coordinate or universal wave description. The pin is intentionally coarse and may need correction from firsthand local knowledge.

Before paddling out: Private land, steep/vegetated access, poison oak, rocks, remote rescue and localism.

No route shown — local/private access knowledge required Coarse El Cap–Refugio corridor pin; exact takeoff unverified

Source references

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

THE FIELD GUIDE / Poison Oak

Read this stretch of coast.

Follow the swell window

The catalogue’s reported preference for Poison Oak is “W-window; local knowledge matters”. 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: Not reliably documented. 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: Reef / rock. Reported difficulty: Advanced / local knowledge. 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

2.56–3.87 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.