Bay St. Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
SW, WSW, W, WNW combo swells
Wind
NE, E, ESE
Surf Height
shaky above 8 feet
Tide
medium coming up
Bay St. Surf Guide
From Santa Monica to Dockweiler, you'll find a series of piers and breakwaters that are generally well below average. Spots include Santa Monica, Venice, Playa del Rey and the ever-popular Ballona Creek, one of the most polluted storm drains in Los Angeles. One of the better stretches of this area is Santa Monica's Bay Street, primarily because it has the best parking. As with most spots in this area, Bay Street works best when there are holes in the sand or during a crossed-up swell.
Ability Level
Beginner - Intermediate
Beginner to intermediate
Local Vibe
Welcoming
Peace and love.
Crowd Factor
Mellow
Rarely crowded, except for midsummer zoo.
Spot Rating
Fun
Mostly closed-out beachbreak unless there are holes in the sand or a mix of swells.
Shoulder Burn
Light
Not bad.
Water Quality
Fair
It's right outside of the city and can get particularly bad after a rainfall.
Hazards
Parking lot.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Fish, Funboard, Longboard, Bodyboard, Skimming, Bodysurfing
Access
Big parking lot at end of Bay Street.
Bottom
sand
Best Season
March-May and September-November best but breaks year-round.
Do you have local knowledge about Bay St.?
If you have any insights or information to add to this spot guide, drop us a note at [email protected]