Lifeguards on all-terrain vehicles patrolled North Shore beaches yesterday and the proactive approach paid off: Lifeguards had a rescue-free day as high surf pounded the shore.

Waves reached 18 to 22 feet along the North Shore. The National Weather Service, which had predicted 40-foot wave faces, canceled the high surf warning yesterday afternoon as the surf began to subside.

A high surf advisory remained in effect through today for north- and east-facing shores, according to the weather service. The surf is expected to remain above 15 feet through today.

With lifeguards warning novice swimmers and surfers of the danger of the big waves, no rescues were reported, said Capt. Bodo Van Der Leeden of the city's Ocean Safety Division.

"We did a lot of prevention work on the beaches," Van Der Leeden said. "The ATVs were flying up and down the beach warning inexperienced surfers and visitors of the dangers of the high surf."

A high surf advisory means that waves are expected to be higher than normal and inexperienced swimmers should stay out of the ocean and well away from the shore break.

Today's weather should be a rather typical pattern of windward and mauka showers due to a weakening trough and the remnants of the sheer line east of the state, according to the National Weather Service.

"The surf is horribly blown out," said Ocean Safety Capt. Edmund Pestana. "There's no quality to the waves. People weren't flocking to the high surf. They stayed home.

"This was just the kickoff of the season."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.