BETAFree to explore during beta. Some atlas tools will become membership features. Surf Insights stays free.Support the project ↗
PURESURFERSLIVE SURF ATLAS
CALIFORNIA / Torrey / Black’sSPOT / 357

Black’s Main.

A bigger canvas. Read the whole frame.

Left & right32.883° N / 117.254° W
Color satellite and aerial imagery centered on the approximate Black’s Main 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 ↑
OPEN THE LIVE ATLAS ↗
Approximate catalogue pin · check the actual shoreline. © OpenStreetMap contributors
Open Black’s Main 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 face2.7 ftOlder cached forecast Thu Oct 22, 12:00pm Pacific
Coastal wind7.6 mphW from · older cache
NOAA tide reference1.9 ftMLLW · La Jolla

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, 12:00pm Pacific

MFWAM · 2 components
Primary swell
2.5ft Hs

SSW from · 197° · 11.5 s

2.5 feet
Wind sea
0.4ft Hs

W from · 273° · 1.9 s

0.4 feet
GFS · all-zero feed unconfirmed

This model reports only zeros across its cached partition forecast while another model reports swell. This is not confirmation of flat surf. Check the other source or try refreshing later.

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, 11:00am · older cache. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.

Source retrievals: GFS Oct 22, 12:00pm · ECMWF Oct 22, 11:15am (older cache) · MFWAM Oct 22, 12:00pm. Retrieval time is not the model issue time. This page combines all available cached model families; map model selections are separate.

Tide predictions: La Jolla, 2 km reference; retrieved Thu Oct 22, 7:30am. 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 222.8 ft8.3 mph14/14
Fri Oct 232.8 ft4.7 mph14/14
Sat Oct 243.3 ft5.7 mph14/14
Sun Oct 252.2 ft5.8 mph14/14
Mon Oct 262.1 ft5.7 mph14/14
Tue Oct 272.7 ft4.6 mph14/14
Wed Oct 282.4 ft5.3 mph14/14
Hourly details · next 72 hours
Pacific timeEstimated surf faceModel rangeSet proxySwell fromWindTide MLLWModels
Thu 12:00pm2.7 ft2.5–2.9 ft4.1 ftSW · 9.8 s7.6 mph W1.9 ft2
Thu 1:00pm2.7 ft2.5–2.9 ft4.1 ftSW · 9.7 s8.3 mph WSW1.4 ft2
Thu 2:00pm2.7 ft2.5–3.0 ft4.1 ftSW · 9.7 s9.2 mph WSW1.4 ft2
Thu 3:00pm2.7 ft2.5–3.0 ft4.1 ftSW · 9.6 s10.5 mph W1.8 ft2
Thu 4:00pm2.7 ft2.4–3.1 ft4.1 ftSW · 9.6 s12.7 mph W2.6 ft2
Thu 5:00pm2.8 ft2.4–3.1 ft4.1 ftWSW · 9.5 s11.9 mph W3.4 ft2
Thu 6:00pm2.7 ft2.4–3.1 ft4.1 ftWSW · 9.5 s10.1 mph W4.2 ft2
Thu 7:00pm2.7 ft2.3–3.1 ft4.1 ftWSW · 9.6 s11.0 mph WNW4.6 ft2
Thu 8:00pm2.7 ft2.3–3.1 ft4.0 ftWSW · 9.6 s9.5 mph WNW4.6 ft2
Thu 9:00pm2.7 ft2.3–3.1 ft4.1 ftWSW · 9.5 s8.7 mph WNW4.1 ft2
Thu 10:00pm2.7 ft2.3–3.1 ft4.1 ftWSW · 9.5 s8.1 mph W3.2 ft2
Thu 11:00pm2.7 ft2.4–3.1 ft4.1 ftWSW · 9.5 s7.5 mph W2.2 ft2
Fri 12:00am2.7 ft2.4–3.1 ft4.1 ftWSW · 9.5 s8.7 mph W1.3 ft2
Fri 1:00am2.7 ft2.4–3.0 ft4.1 ftWSW · 9.6 s9.2 mph W0.8 ft2
Fri 2:00am2.7 ft2.4–3.0 ft4.0 ftWSW · 9.7 s5.6 mph WSW0.7 ft2
Fri 3:00am2.7 ft2.4–2.9 ft4.0 ftWSW · 9.8 s7.2 mph W1.2 ft2
Fri 4:00am2.6 ft2.4–2.9 ft4.0 ftWSW · 10.0 s2.8 mph SW2.1 ft2
Fri 5:00am2.6 ft2.4–2.8 ft3.9 ftSW · 10.1 s6.8 mph SE3.3 ft2
Fri 6:00am2.6 ft2.4–2.8 ft3.9 ftSW · 10.2 s6.5 mph SE4.3 ft2
Fri 7:00am2.6 ft2.5–2.7 ft3.9 ftSW · 10.2 s6.6 mph SSE5.0 ft2
Fri 8:00am2.6 ft2.5–2.7 ft3.9 ftSW · 10.3 s3.1 mph SSE5.3 ft2
Fri 9:00am2.6 ft2.5–2.8 ft3.9 ftSW · 10.3 s7.3 mph E4.9 ft2
Fri 10:00am2.7 ft2.6–2.8 ft4.0 ftSW · 10.3 s7.2 mph SE4.1 ft2
Fri 11:00am2.7 ft2.6–2.8 ft4.0 ftSW · 10.3 s4.8 mph SE3.0 ft2
Fri 12:00pm2.7 ft2.6–2.8 ft4.0 ftSW · 10.3 s4.3 mph SSE1.9 ft2
Fri 1:00pm2.7 ft2.6–2.9 ft4.1 ftWSW · 10.1 s1.8 mph SSE1.1 ft2
Fri 2:00pm2.7 ft2.6–2.9 ft4.1 ftWSW · 9.9 s2.7 mph SW0.7 ft2
Fri 3:00pm2.9 ft2.6–3.2 ft4.3 ftWSW · 9.5 s5.0 mph WSW0.9 ft2
Fri 4:00pm3.0 ft2.7–3.4 ft4.6 ftWSW · 9.0 s4.6 mph WSW1.6 ft2
Fri 5:00pm3.1 ft2.7–3.5 ft4.7 ftWSW · 8.5 s3.8 mph W2.6 ft2
Fri 6:00pm3.2 ft2.8–3.6 ft4.8 ftWSW · 8.3 s4.1 mph WNW3.6 ft2
Fri 7:00pm3.4 ft3.0–3.8 ft5.1 ftWSW · 8.2 s4.4 mph NW4.3 ft2
Fri 8:00pm3.5 ft3.1–3.8 ft5.2 ftW · 8.2 s4.3 mph N4.7 ft2
Fri 9:00pm3.5 ft3.2–3.8 ft5.3 ftW · 8.2 s3.4 mph NE4.5 ft2
Fri 10:00pm3.6 ft3.3–3.8 ft5.3 ftW · 8.2 s4.0 mph ENE3.8 ft2
Fri 11:00pm3.6 ft3.4–3.8 ft5.4 ftW · 8.3 s4.5 mph ENE2.9 ft2
Sat 12:00am3.6 ft3.4–3.8 ft5.4 ftW · 8.4 s4.3 mph ENE1.9 ft2
Sat 1:00am3.6 ft3.5–3.8 ft5.4 ftW · 8.6 s4.3 mph E1.1 ft2
Sat 2:00am3.6 ft3.5–3.7 ft5.4 ftW · 8.7 s1.8 mph E0.8 ft2
Sat 3:00am3.6 ft3.5–3.7 ft5.4 ftW · 8.9 s1.8 mph ENE1.1 ft2
Sat 4:00am3.6 ft3.5–3.7 ft5.4 ftW · 9.0 s3.9 mph E1.9 ft2
Sat 5:00am3.6 ft3.5–3.7 ft5.4 ftW · 9.1 s3.1 mph E3.0 ft2
Sat 6:00am3.6 ft3.4–3.7 ft5.3 ftW · 9.2 s2.3 mph ENE4.3 ft2
Sat 7:00am3.6 ft3.5–3.6 ft5.3 ftW · 9.2 s2.4 mph NE5.2 ft2
Sat 8:00am3.5 ft3.4–3.7 ft5.3 ftW · 9.3 s2.2 mph E5.7 ft2
Sat 9:00am3.5 ft3.4–3.6 ft5.2 ftW · 9.3 s1.5 mph ENE5.6 ft2
Sat 10:00am3.5 ft3.4–3.5 ft5.2 ftW · 9.4 s2.1 mph NNW4.8 ft2
Sat 11:00am3.4 ft3.3–3.5 ft5.1 ftWSW · 9.5 s4.8 mph NW3.6 ft2
Sat 12:00pm3.4 ft3.3–3.4 ft5.0 ftWSW · 9.5 s6.5 mph NW2.3 ft2
Sat 1:00pm3.3 ft3.2–3.3 ft4.9 ftWSW · 9.6 s7.3 mph WNW1.1 ft2
Sat 2:00pm3.2 ft3.2–3.3 ft4.8 ftWSW · 9.6 s8.5 mph WNW0.3 ft2
Sat 3:00pm3.2 ft3.1–3.2 ft4.7 ftWSW · 9.6 s9.8 mph WNW0.1 ft2
Sat 4:00pm3.1 ft3.0–3.2 ft4.7 ftWSW · 9.6 s9.1 mph WNW0.6 ft2
Sat 5:00pm3.1 ft3.0–3.2 ft4.6 ftWSW · 9.6 s8.5 mph WNW1.5 ft2
Sat 6:00pm3.0 ft3.0–3.1 ft4.6 ftWSW · 9.6 s7.0 mph NW2.6 ft2
Sat 7:00pm3.0 ft2.9–3.0 ft4.4 ftWSW · 9.7 s7.2 mph NW3.7 ft2
Sat 8:00pm2.9 ft2.9–2.9 ft4.4 ftWSW · 9.8 s7.5 mph NNW4.4 ft2
Sat 9:00pm2.9 ft2.8–2.9 ft4.3 ftWSW · 9.9 s6.6 mph NNW4.6 ft2
Sat 10:00pm2.8 ft2.8–2.9 ft4.3 ftWSW · 9.9 s5.7 mph NW4.3 ft2
Sat 11:00pm2.8 ft2.7–2.8 ft4.2 ftWSW · 10.0 s5.1 mph NW3.5 ft2
Sun 12:00am2.7 ft2.6–2.8 ft4.1 ftWSW · 10.0 s4.3 mph NNW2.5 ft2
Sun 1:00am2.7 ft2.6–2.8 ft4.0 ftWSW · 10.1 s4.1 mph N1.6 ft2
Sun 2:00am2.6 ft2.5–2.7 ft3.9 ftWSW · 10.1 s3.4 mph N1.1 ft2
Sun 3:00am2.6 ft2.4–2.7 ft3.8 ftWSW · 10.1 s2.9 mph N1.1 ft2
Sun 4:00am2.5 ft2.4–2.6 ft3.7 ftWSW · 10.1 s2.8 mph NNE1.7 ft2
Sun 5:00am2.4 ft2.3–2.5 ft3.6 ftWSW · 10.2 s3.0 mph NE2.8 ft2
Sun 6:00am2.3 ft2.2–2.5 ft3.5 ftWSW · 10.2 s2.2 mph NE4.0 ft2
Sun 7:00am2.3 ft2.2–2.5 ft3.5 ftWSW · 10.3 s1.1 mph N5.2 ft2
Sun 8:00am2.3 ft2.1–2.4 ft3.4 ftWSW · 10.4 s1.9 mph NNW6.0 ft2
Sun 9:00am2.2 ft2.1–2.3 ft3.3 ftWSW · 10.5 s3.1 mph NNW6.1 ft2
Sun 10:00am2.2 ft2.0–2.3 ft3.2 ftWSW · 10.6 s4.2 mph NNW5.6 ft2
Sun 11:00am2.1 ft2.0–2.2 ft3.1 ftWSW · 10.6 s4.9 mph NW4.4 ft2
Sun 12:00pm2.1 ft2.0–2.2 ft3.2 ftWSW · 10.5 s6.2 mph NW3.0 ft2

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 main Black’s canyon takeoff zone.

Also known as Blacks.

Break type
Beach
Wave direction
Left & right
Reported difficulty
Advanced–expert
Bottom
Sand
Reported swell preference
S–NW
Reported tide preference
Low–mid

One of Southern California’s truly consequential beaches. The canyon amplification makes live surf size especially important here. Source note: Imported 6.8 catalogue; place and confirm the takeoff.

Before paddling out: Powerful surf, cliffs, rips and heavy crowding.

Public shoreline or trail access; tide and closures matter Owner-placed takeoff; not a survey

Source references

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

THE FIELD GUIDE / Black’s Main

Read this stretch of coast.

What defines this setup

Black’s is catalogued as beach, with left & right waves over sand. Those details explain why the same offshore height can feel different here than at the next beach. Use the map to orient yourself, then watch how the sets actually meet the bottom and where the ride opens or closes. The catalogue is a starting description, not a surveyed takeoff.

What to compare before you go

The retained swell preference is S–NW; the reported tide preference is Low–mid. Start with the component panel: check whether the stronger incoming swell is in that directional window and whether a second system approaches from a different angle. Then compare wind and water level for the same hour. These are planning comparisons, not new corrections applied to the displayed surf-face estimate.

A useful shore check

The reported difficulty is Advanced–expert. Look at the interval between sets, the distance a surfer drifts while waiting, the room available to enter and exit, and whether the waves connect through the intended section. Catalogue hazards include Powerful surf, cliffs, rips and heavy crowding. If the session you see differs from the forecast, record that difference with the time and setup; it is information for the next visit, not a reason to force today’s session.

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

Scripps Pier ↗

Scripps Institution of Oceanography / Surfline · about 1.8 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Scripps Pier and La Jolla Shores cameras on the university’s page.

La Jolla Shores ↗

HDOnTap · about 2.9 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Beach and surf view at La Jolla Shores.

Windansea ↗

The Surfers View · about 6.3 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Publicly listed Windansea reef-camera page.

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

3.54–3.54 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.