Stay Off the Rocks: Marie’s South Swell Is Still Dangerous — And El Niño 2026 Will Bring More Days Like This
Friends,
I need to talk to you about the rocks.
Hurricane Marie is no longer a hurricane. As of this morning, Monday, September 7, the National Hurricane Center has her as Tropical Storm Marie, about 705 miles southwest of San Diego, winds around 65 mph, drifting west-northwest and expected to fade into a remnant low by Wednesday. That is the official word.
Here is the part that matters to us: the swell she already built does not leave when the name comes off the storm. Marie sent a long-period south and southwest swell into Baja California and Southern California. The National Hurricane Center is still warning of life-threatening surf and rip currents along that whole stretch for the next couple of days. High surf advisories are up through Tuesday night. Sets have been running 5 to 10 feet on south-facing beaches. The National Weather Service has specifically called out rock jetties as extra dangerous in this kind of water.
We are going to see a lot of days like this during El Niño 2026. Warm water and a busy Pacific storm season mean more south swell, more sneaker sets, more days when a jetty that looks fishable is actually a trap. Friedman Adventures wants everybody home. The yellowtail and croaker will wait. The family will not get another you.
What happened Sunday near Ensenada
This is from AGP Noticias, translated into English:
ENSENADA — Two brothers, 20 and 23 years old, are missing after being swept out to sea while fishing at Playa Escondida in the Esteban Cantú ejido, municipality of Ensenada.
The search for the young men was suspended because of dangerous sea conditions. Officials say it will resume when it is safe for emergency crews.
The incident is one of several that occurred Sunday in the same area. At Campo 9, a man drowned after falling into the water from a rocky section of shoreline. Fishermen recovered his body and brought it to shore, but he no longer had vital signs.
Earlier that morning, another man was pulled from the water alive by fishermen working nearby, preventing a second fatality.
Authorities recommend staying away from rocky areas and stopping all fishing activity whenever the surf is dangerous.
That is not a rumor. That is what the local news service reported. Two brothers still missing. One man already gone. One man lucky because other fishermen were close enough to grab him.
If you fish Ensenada, Popotla, Saldamando, the Coronados, Sunset Beach, Huntington, or any jetty from Baja to San Francisco — hear me. A south swell wrapping around rocks does not look like a movie wave. It looks like a hole that opens under your feet. One set washes the ledge. The next one takes the person who stepped down to grab a rod.
Simple rules for this week and this El Niño
• If the rocks are wet and shiny, stay off them.
• If you cannot see a clean exit behind you, do not step out.
• Do not turn your back on the water to unhook a fish.
• Wear a PFD if you insist on fishing structure in swell. Pride does not float.
• Fish the sand, the harbor, a boat, or go home and rig for the next good tide.
• Watch your kids and your buddies. One person on the water, one person watching the set.
Friedman Adventures covers the water from Mexico to San Francisco, and other parts of the world when there is real outdoor news. This is that kind of news. We love this lifestyle. We love this community. Love means telling you when the ocean is not playing.
Please share this with anyone who fishes rocks or jetties. Check http://friedmanadventures.com for Captain’s audios, landing and boat counts, bait availability, Friedman Adventures AI, the Kids Corner, and lots more.
Pray for those two brothers, their family, and the man who did not make it home from Campo 9. And then stay off the rocks until this swell lays down.
— Phil Friedman Adventures
End-of-summer Surf Fishing Festival: Saturday, September 12, 2026, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, Anderson St. & PCH, Sunset Beach. Noon raffle. Park across PCH. Big Fish Bait & Tackle in Seal Beach for gear and directions. Come if the beach is safe that morning. If it is not, we will say so.
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