Santa Cruzans are reeling this week as a result of the immense damage caused by the gigantic wave event that hit our coast on Monday. Size estimates ranged from 20-30 foot waves, with some reports claiming swell heights over 50 feet. Most would agree that our local big-wave spots were producing rideable surf in the 15-20 foot category.
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At least three deaths were reported in the greater Monterey Bay area as a result of individuals being swept by the ferocious shorebreak. The swell dropped on Tuesday and Wednesday, but Thursday’s NOAA forecast included a Hazardous Seas and Gale Warning, with seas ranging from 20 feet on Thursday and dropping only to 15 feet over the weekend. Needless to say, no one is going fishing until things calm down, which might take a week or more.
The stunning collapse of nearly 120 feet off the tip of the Santa Cruz Wharf is national news. Luckily, that portion of the wharf was closed to the public for reconstruction. While the giant waves can only be considered “an act of God,” one must really wonder how much that ongoing construction may have weakened the wharf and contributed to the disastrous failure. Debris from the collapse is washing up along beaches from Seabright to the Pajaro River this week, but much of the plank and piling material remain at sea. Many pieces are mostly submerged. All the debris represent an incredible hazard to navigation and will remain a danger for some time to come.
The Santa Cruz Harbor was hard-hit as well. Ultimately, harbor damage may be equivalent to the infamous tsunami in 2011. Preliminary estimates for recovery and repair are already topping $20 million. Most big-wave events along our wintertime coast are wave trains that come from the northwest. This swell is from the west, from which the harbor is more vulnerable to funneling a surge more directly into the dock areas. Even the northern end of the harbor was pummeled by four to six-foot breaking waves during the height of destructive pandemonium. Much of the wharf debris was channeled into the harbor as well, which significantly added to the damage to boats and harbor infrastructure.
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On Tuesday morning, boat owners and helpers were scrambling to secure their vessels as best they could, a difficult task when the docks themselves were often unmoored, detached or missing altogether. Harbor Patrol and maintenance workers along with the dredge crew worked tirelessly to move boats, collect big debris and prevent further damage to vessels on the docks.
Monte Ash, owner and operator of TowBoatUS in Santa Cruz has managed very little sleep for the past few days.
“We don’t really have a number of boats sunk yet,” Ash reported. “The water is turgid and we can’t see most of them.”
Ash and his crew were instrumental in preventing more sinkings over the past few days, using pumps, floater bags and salvage techniques to keep multiple boats afloat. An unofficial report from harbor officials on Wednesday confirmed at least a dozen boats sunk and more than 200 damaged.
Allen Bushnell also operates Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing Guide Service. Please send your reports, pictures or questions to scruzfishing@yahoo.com
