Santa Cruz The Hook: entry & exit strategy

[ConcreteVitamin]

Anyone familiar with The Hook?

My current entry strategy: just don't enter within 1hr of high tide.

Exit strategy is more problematic. The waves break in a direction that push surfers away from the stairs. So I found that exit is a very tiring process:
(1) paddle out again
(2) catch one in
(3) the wave doesn't push me all the way to the shore, so I have to paddle IN more
(4) now I'm finally at shore, I walk maybe 10 minutes under the cliffs.

Any better exit strategy?

[surferbee]

There are a few different ways to access The Hook. The most direct is the stairs at the parking lot on 41st. But depending on what's going on, it may be easier to enter/exit via the stairs at 38th. If you got a really long ride (or the surf is huge) you could also paddle in to Privates, but that's a 10min walk back to your car at 41st.

[ConcreteVitamin]

Oh wow, thanks for the info. I think exiting on low to mid tide via 41st stairs is doable. I'll try your Privates/38th next time!