Morro Strand State Beach
San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo County · California
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As of Sep 11, 11:15 PM PT · latest availableDawn is the clearest window — onshore wind picks up by late morning and surface chop stirs the bottom through the afternoon.
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35.392° N · 120.867° W
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Open in Apple MapsAbout Morro Strand State Beach
Morro Strand State Beach is a roughly three-mile stretch of open sand running north from Morro Rock to the town of Cayucos. The beach is wide and flat, backed by low dunes and residential streets, and several access points are spaced along its length: the Atascadero Road entry at the south end, the Yerba Buena Street entry near the campground, and the Morro Strand State RV Park access. With no headland or kelp shelter, the beach faces directly into the prevailing northwest swell.
The open sand and the waves breaking across it make the entire spot a surf zone biome. No significant rocky structure, kelp, or other habitat is present.
Surfing is common up and down the beach, with consistent beach-break waves on most swells, and surf fishing is common as well. Kite surfing is a regular activity at the south end on windy afternoons. Summer swimming is common when the surf is small. With no rocky structure to hold life, snorkeling and spearfishing are uncommon, and there are no reports of shore scuba diving.
Parking is free at the Atascadero Road and Yerba Buena Street entries, and the Morro Strand State RV Park campground entrance has its own access lot. Multiple beach entries are spread along the three-mile stretch. Hook-and-line fishing and spearfishing are legal under standard California regulations.
Surf Zone
The surf zone biome consists of sandy beaches and breaking waves. The action of surf disturbing the sand and kicking it up exposes marine invertebrates, buried in their shallow dens. This natural exposure of invertebrates attracts all kinds of fish, looking for an easy meal. Learn more about this biome and the species found in it by clicking the link below.
Learn more in the Biome GlossaryTarget Fish Species
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Rocky Reef
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