Tamarack Reef and Surf
The Reef:
Tamarack has a mostly sand
bottom with the occasional rock here and there. Like most of
the breaks throughout Carlsbad, the beach is all sand and
great for a day at the beach. Under the main peak at
Tamarack, there are a few big rocks that create the great
shape of these waves but be sure to take caution on the low
tides as they can get pretty close to the surface.
On big days at Tamarack
make sure to watch out for rip tides pulling South toward
the jetties. It can be pretty dangerous on big days because
as all the water is moving in, it has no where to go and can
create a lot of havoc in the inside section.
The
Surf:
Best
Tide: Medium to High tides are best for Terramar but
Low tides can lead to some fast walls and fun sections.
Best
Swell Directing: A Northwest or West swell can do
wonders at Tamarack but during the Summer South swells, it
can get really fun and rampy.
Best
Winds: No wind is best but if any, a East wind will do
wonders.
Best
Size: Anywhere from 2 - 8 feet. Make sure to watch out
as Tamarack gets larger because it can get very chaotic on
the inside with off the water being trapped and moving
around.
Best
Months to Catch it Going Off: September through April
are best best but the Summer months can also provide some
fun waves.
The surf at Tamarack can
vary greatly on swell direction and conditions. However,
there is a main peak and an inside section like most breaks
around San Diego. the main peak is almost straight in front
of the parking lot and breaks in an A Frame shape with both
a right and a left breaking at the same time.
As the wave moves from the
outside into the inside section, the wave speeds up
dramatically and turns into a wall of fun! Make sure to be
ready for a ride because as the contour of the ocean floor
becomes shallower, the waves at Tamarack stand up and start
moving! On a Low to Medium tide, I have seen this inside
section stand up and pitch over and create some awesome
barrels for surfer's in the water.
Tamarack is a beautiful
beach with some awesome waves and I highly recommend
checking this spot out.
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