Swami's Reef & Tide Pools

The reef off San Elijo State Beach lies inside Swami's State Marine Conservation Area, which California State Parks calls San Diego's largest marine protected area. It stretches north to Swami's in Encinitas and holds 12 habitats, from kelp forest to surf grass beds and rocky reef. At low tide the nearshore reef is exposed, and tide pools show brittle stars, sea hares and octopus. Nothing may be taken except fish caught by hook and line from shore and certain fish by spearfishing.

What Swami's SMCA Protects

Swami's State Marine Conservation Area is one of two marine protected areas next to San Elijo State Beach. Its shoreline boundary runs from latitude 33° 02.900' N south past the mouth of San Elijo Lagoon to latitude 33° 00.000' N, and it reaches out to the three-nautical-mile line offshore. California State Parks says the waters around Swami's Reef hold 12 distinct habitats, including a thriving kelp forest, wide surf grass beds and rocky reefs, where lobsters, halibut, grunion and many other fish and invertebrates feed and breed.

The second protected area, San Elijo Lagoon SMCA, covers the lagoon itself and is no-take: no taking anything, and no boating, swimming, wading or diving. See San Elijo Lagoon.

Tide Pooling

At low tide the nearshore reef is uncovered. California State Parks lists brittle stars, sea hares and octopus in the pools, and fossils pressed into the flat rocks. Follow good tide pool etiquette:

• Leave every rock, shell, animal and natural object where you find it. All are protected.
• Keep an eye on the surf; large waves can arrive without warning.

San Elijo's interpreters lead Wildlife Walks that sometimes explore the marine protected area, and a Nature Table at the park office shows animals from Swami's SMCA. See ranger programs.

Fishing and Spearfishing Rules

Inside Swami's SMCA, taking any living marine resource is prohibited except:

• recreational take by hook and line from shore only, and
• white seabass and pelagic finfish, such as Pacific bonito, by spearfishing.

A fishing license is required for any fishing, and all normal take rules still apply. The official text is California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 632. See fishing.

Surfing Swami's

California State Parks describes Swami's Reef as a major surfing destination that draws all levels of surfers during good swells. See surfing.

Visiting Swami's Beach

Swami's beach is run by the City of Encinitas, not California State Parks. The city lists beach parking hours of 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and beach use from 4 a.m. to 2 a.m. From San Elijo State Beach, Swami's is to the north along Coast Highway 101.