WILLIAM'S PLACE AT SCORPION BAY
surfing and kiting in san juanico
Americans call this place Scorpion Bay, but locals call it San Juanico. Whatever its name, it has world-class surfing at its seven point breaks, and it also has fun, lesser known beach and river-mouth breaks. The key to understanding these spots is that they face east/southeast, southeast, or south, and the prevailing afternoon winds blow sideshore or offshore from the NW.
First Point works only on a very large SSW or SW swell at a very low or negative tide. It is a great spot for beginners and stand-up paddlers. On huge days it offers fun surf for more experienced surfers seeking a little respite. It is best at a very low tide.
Second Point works only on SSW and SW swells, but it picks up a lot more surf than First Point. It works on a very low to medium-low tide. This is the most popular spot for most visitors. It is a longboard wave, even a longboard classic. When it is lined up, the rides begin with a fast drop into a fun wave that winds into the cove and has perfect shape. The bottom changes every year. Sometimes there are fun peaks at a few different spots, and sometimes it is one very long wave.
Third Point is a legendary wave for intermediate and advanced surfers. It works on SSW and SW swells and occasionally when there is a giant WNW swell in the water. It likes a medium-low to medium-high tide, but experts and daredevils surf it at lower tides. On bigger days, it works at the higher tides. The photo above shows William riding a fun one there during the summer of 2022.
Fourth Point and beyond are more exposed, have larger surf, and pick up SSW, SW, and sometimes WNW swells. The outer points work best on medium to higher tides, and beyond Fourth Point it is advisable to surf only at medium-high and high tides.
This area attracts not only surfers, but also kiters and even the occasional windsurfer. Most mornings are calm, then a prevailing sea breeze kicks up at around midday or in the early afternoon. That wind blows offshore at the inner points and side-shore/offshore at the outer points.
The afternoon winds are consistent and strong during the springtime and consistent but usually lighter until late July and then again during the fall. Kiters enjoy it here much of the year and do some amazing things at the outer points. Sailors (windsurfers) must take what they can get, mostly in the spring months, when stiff winds might blow each afternoon for a month straight. There are sailable days at other times of the year too. Some people now sail with foil-boards, which seem to work pretty well even in light winds.
One unwritten rule here is that no one practices any kind of wind-sport at the inner points (nos. 1-3). A second unwritten rule is that surfers take turns catching waves in the line-ups or at least make an effort to let others catch waves.
The water here is usually warm (from the low to upper 70s) from late June until early November, but sometimes it warms up a little earlier and stays warm until early December. The warmest waters arrive during the tropical season, which typically runs from early August to mid-October. That is when the water is usually in the mid- to upper 70s or even the low 80s on occasion. From December to March, the temperature dips down into the mid-60s, which likely seems mild to most people from California, but a little chilly to anyone who comes from a tropical climate or expects to find one here. From late March until early June, the water gets freezing cold because of the strong springtime winds, which induce upwelling and therefore temperatures in the mid-50s, even when there is bright sunshine directly overhead. Bring a 4/3 and a hood for your springtime adventure in San Juanico.
The climate is arid and typical of the Pacific coast of south-central Baja California: we have lots of sunshine most of the year, mild winters, relentless afternoon winds in the spring, hot and pleasant summers, a very hot tropical season, and stunningly beautiful, warm weather in the fall. From late November to early June, it can get chilly at night in a way that will seem familiar to people from the coastal parts of Southern California, but it is usually 5-8 degrees warmer here.