“In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth.”
― Rachel Carson

My first real memory from my recent trip to Baja was hearing the Sea of Cortez surf pounding on the beach at San Jose del Cabo. I don’t mean surf ‘rolling’, I mean the surf here literally explodes as sea meets sand, on the steeply inclined shore, which causes the water to quickly recede, leading to strong undertow and rip-tides. It’s not safe for swimming, at least in this section of the beach.

While this image was made seconds after a large wave broke, and the surface seems relatively calm, you can see the explosive spray of waves as they break further along the beach, an area frequented by surf fishermen. I wondered why the surf was so much more intense in this area. While looking at satellite imagery, I noticed that the seabed is a bit shallower at this point, making for higher surf. It also makes it an ideal place for smaller bait fish to collect, attracting the larger sports fish, such as Dorado,  Jack Crevalle, Sierra, California Yellowtail, and Wahoo. And that, attracts the surf fishermen, which you can see on the sandy point.

The view here just resonated with me, as I looked across the bay to the distant hillside, the morning sun warmed my face, the sound of surf echoed in my ears, and the tang of the salty air, filled me with joy. It brings a smile to my face and a sense of calm, just recalling the moment.

Nikon D800
Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G I AF-S VR Zoom @ 300mm
1/320 sec, f/9.0, ISO 200

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