Surfing Waves

Does anyone know the best time of year to hit NorCal beaches? I have the opportunity to go within the next eight months or so but I'd like to plan it so I can surf when I'm out there. I hear Half Moon Bay is great during certain times of the year.

that depends on how big you want the waves. Most big swells hit from december to feburary or therabouts.

Winter obviously being much better for wave size but norcal water will be chilly.

In some cases, too, the waves can get pretty dangerous up there depending on the season. I was up in the bay area last Christmas and there were rip-tide and wave warnings through Bodega Bay. But then, I'm not a very experienced surfer and I also didn't have a wetsuit with me...cold water...