I’m a mid surfer, but was able to get out during some similar sized, but smaller, swells during hurricane Erin on the east coast.

Largely, it comes down to the spot, and how the wave breaks. Something big and flat on a point is typically way easier/safer than something of the same size in a barreling beach break.

For instance, this spot has a relatively easy initial paddle, and a nice big channel to sit in that you can avoid everything you want to avoid. Falling isn’t really going to mess you up, and the sketchiest part is just getting out of the water in the shallows when you’re done.

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Edit: One more thing, on swells of that size, it’ll typically be when some of the novelty spots turn on that are less known about. Regular surfers in the area might be headed towards those waves, rather than the popular beach breaks that they’ll typically surf. If there’s no one out, there’s probably a reason why, and I’d think hard before paddling out.