The Coast Guard received a report that a surfer near Pacifica Pier, located off Beach Boulevard, needed rescuing at 2:17 p.m., Nagle said.
A Coast Guard pilot flew a helicopter to the area and lowered a rescue swimmer down to the surfer.
The surfer was pulled from the water and brought to safety at 2:47 p.m., Nagle said. He was not injured.
Pacifica fire officials recovered the surfboard, Nagle said.