Crayfish Reef

Crayfish Reef is a surf spot located in Cape Town, South Africa, between Kommetjie and Scarborough on the Atlantic Seaboard. The spot is also known as Crayfish Factory. The surf break is an exposed reef with a coral bottom, and you need to jump off the rocks in front of the flats and paddle through kelp before reaching the lineup. There is a long paddle over a deep channel to the reef. The surf spot provides left waves. The wave length ranges from 50 to 150 meters, and sometimes the sets are wide when the swell is big. The spot is best during low and medium tide and is considered a regional classic. The ideal surf forecast is in winter, especially in May, when distant southwest groundswells and northeast offshore winds line up. Swell size is usually between 2.4 and 5 meters. The spot is mostly empty, even on weekends, due to its challenging nature. Access is from a parking lot near Misty Cliffs, with a short walk to the spot. Crayfish Reef is about 10 minutes from Kommetjie and Scarborough and under an hour from Cape Town’s City Bowl. The area is open to the public and free to access. The spot is not for beginners, as there are strong rips, undertow, rocks, and a tight takeoff area. The water is deep with a shallow reef, and there have been shark sightings. Check your skills before paddling out, be sure that the spot and conditions fit your surfing level. Respect the locals, especially when the spot is crowded, and always check the surf etiquette. Nearby surf spots include Haakgat Point, 3de Steen, Big Bay, Little Bay, and Blaauwberg. For the latest surf report, forecast, map, and webcam, check local surf resources before heading out.