Surfers in the background of Pebble Beach golf photography are riding this kelpy right reef on the south side of Point Joe, one of California's more surreal lineups. Mole Point picks up W, NW, and SW swells and works best on an incoming medium-to-high tide with E or SE winds keeping the face clean. The wave is juicy, maxing around 8ft, and suits intermediates through advanced surfers who can handle a tight, competitive peak. Crowd pressure is real and the local vibe is genuinely intimidating, so come with skills and patience. Bottom: rock reef and sand. Season: year-round, with winter NW swells producing the best shape. Consistency: moderate to good through fall and winter. Bring a leash you trust, because the rocks and kelp here will punish a wipeout fast, and the caddies on the adjacent par-three hole will not be rooting for you.
The crowd rating is heavy and the local vibe is rated intimidating. This is a small peak that concentrates surfers in a confined area. Dawn patrol sessions reduce friction. Surfing here with attitude or dropping in will get noticed fast. Respect the pecking order or paddle somewhere else.
Park along the road and walk down. No formal amenities at the break itself. The Pebble Beach golf course sits immediately adjacent, which makes for a bizarre backdrop and occasional hostile looks from the 17-Mile Drive crowd. Water quality is clean.
When Mole Point is too crowded or the angle is wrong, Asilomar State Beach to the south offers more forgiving beach peaks across a range of swell directions. Carmel Beach can also pick up similar W and NW energy with a more open lineup.
Forecast by Windy.app
