Best Surf Spots In Newport Beach

Not to be confused with Blacks Beach further down the California shoreline in San Diego, Blackies offers up some pretty unique tubular lefts when its working. Anything in the 180-240 degree angle works well, which means S and W swells. You need some force behind it and for the right sandbank alignment. When all that matches, there are long meetings in the green room going away from the pier and some punchy lefts towards the pier. When things are smaller, Blackies easily transforms into a mellower wave with cruisy lefts and is happy to host loggers and shortboarders alike.

This is the most accessible wave in the Newport Beach area. When The Wedge is running amok on strong south swells between May and August, this one’s usually cooking up neat left that roll inside the bay. The reason for that is the extra protection that comes with the headland poking out to the south, meaning this part of Newport Beach faces more due west than its compadre by the jetty. South winds also bring an element of offshores here, and the local crew is pretty relaxed about travelers and kooks entering the water.

The waves squeeze in between the river jetties at this spot in north Newport Beach. It’s a skirtboarders mainstay with occasional goofy rides that are simply amazing. You’ll need to learn the ropes to spot them because there are loads of sets that lip up and close pretty fast. You’re essentially at the mercy of the sandbanks, but there’s consistency enough to make it one of the top spots in the town. S swells are best with morning offshores giving the best of the day.

The Wedge is one of the gnarliest waves in south Cali. It’s not like anything you’ve ever surfed before, because it’s formed from the reflection of oncoming south swells on the Newport Harbor groin.

When the period is just right, the first wave in the set will bounce back and match up perfectly with the next oncoming wave. The result is a lippy, wedge-like curl of water that’s unpredictable in the extreme. Don’t ever go right on The Wedge, it will churn you up and spit you out in a tumble-dryer of frothing water. Not that the left ride is much easier. Because the peak forms in an instant from the backwash of the first wave, you can never really pinpoint the right take off point. It’s always shifting and moving. The best you can hope for is a fast paddle into the steep wall and then shooting out to the left.

When the blackball flag is up, The Wedge is bodyboarders only. Local crew is to be reckoned with but they’ve earned it. Experts only. DO NOT SURF HERE. IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO WATCH BIG WAVES THOUGH.