El Segundo Beach Jetty
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
El Segundo Beach Jetty is an exposed breakwater/jetty break in the South Bay that’s described as having quite reliable surf, with best conditions concentrated in winter (December being a peak month). It’s set up for both left and right-hand waves and is often a go-to option when you want consistent jetty break surfing rather than heavily peaky alternatives in the same general area. The wind picture matters here: east to northeast winds are typically offshore and help create cleaner, more groomed wave faces. Surfing conditions are commonly linked to southwest swells, and while the break is exposed, the jetty form can add shape and help keep rides working when the swell is in the right range. Ride lengths are generally described as medium, with the potential for longer sessions when the sand is behaving well. Safety is a key issue. Pollution is repeatedly flagged due to nearby industrial outfalls, with guidance to avoid entering for 72 hours after rainfall. Additional hazards include rocks and urchins around the jetty area, and there can be rip-current activity near the jetty—so it’s important to check current water-quality information before committing. Access is straightforward from the main beach parking areas, but weekend parking can get tight. Lifeguard coverage is described as seasonal (with extra staffing on busy weekends), and emergency response is available via 911 if needed.
- Reliable winter jetty surf
- NE winds offshore for cleaner faces
- Both left and right-hand waves
- Often quiet/low-profile
- Exposed breakwater/jetty setup with fairly reliable, rideable surf in winter.
- Both left and right-hand waves are reported.
- Offshore-favored wind when NE winds are present can improve wave face quality.
- Typically rarely crowded.
- Water quality risk near industrial outfalls; elevated pollution after rainfall.
- Rocks/jetty hazards and potential urchins.
- Can see rip-current activity near the jetty.
- Not consistently mild—can get heavy/close out on bigger swells.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE
- Offshore directions
- NE
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Afternoon sea-breeze pattern; winds become more consistently offshore for surfing from NE directions.
- Reliability
- 0.39
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- December, January, February, November
- Shadow Zones
- Some shelter from the jetty during light northwest winds.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand bottom.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Also described as small-to-medium depending on swell.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach/paddling area for getting out.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Also described as moderate depending on conditions.
Through the year
Rarely crowded in general, but can be busy on weekend mornings during good swells.
Rainy season typically occurs from December through March.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed breakwater/jetty break with fairly consistent, rideable surf, featuring both left and right-hand waves. Works best on southwest swells with northeasterly offshore winds.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SSW, W
- Swell Height
- 0.9–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Also described as working across all tides; mid tide is specifically noted as optimal.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Jetty/breakwater exposure with rock jetty features at the northern end; not sheltered from swell.
- Wind Effect
- East or northeast winds are offshore and tend to produce cleaner, more groomed faces.
- Bigger Swell
- On very large swell it can get heavy and may close out; tends to handle moderate winter swells better.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Often described as reliable/quite reliable; average-to-good quality depending on conditions.
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Mixed
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Normal length around 50–150m; good days can run about 150–300m.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Typical ride distances are reported in the ~30–80m range; some sources note longer sections on structured sandbars and on more organized days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for El Segundo Beach Jetty in the full forecast view.
El Segundo Beach Jetty wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 1–8 ktsGusts 15 kts
- Direction
- SW234°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 248 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.6–1.4 m10s period
- Temperature
- 13–24 °C
Over the next 7 days, El Segundo Beach Jetty is forecast for daytime winds of 1–8 kts, peaking around 8 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 15 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.6–1.4 m with a period of about 10s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- pollution
- rocks
- man-made-danger-buoys
- urchins
- rip currents near the jetty
- pollution from nearby industrial outfalls
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguards staffed seasonally and more likely on busy weekends.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited
- Emergency Info
- Call 911 for emergencies. Lifeguard towers are staffed seasonally and on busy weekends.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Described as rarely crowded, with a local, low-profile feel.
Rules of the spot
Standard Southern California beach rules; surfing is typically restricted to designated areas away from swimming zones during summer months.
- Water-quality alerts may apply after heavy rainfall.
- Summer swim zone restrictions may limit where you can surf.
- Line up about 5 feet from the jetty near the end.
- On very low tides or negative tides it may barrel a few yards past the jetty.
- Check water quality reports before entering because the spot is close to industrial plants.
- Parking can be difficult on weekends even with the paid lot.
- Avoid surfing for 72 hours after rainfall due to elevated pollution risk following storm runoff.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- El Segundo
- Nearest Town
- El Segundo
- Parking
- Parking available at El Segundo Beach Lot and El Porto.
- Access
- Park at El Segundo Beach Lot and walk about 250 yards south to the jetty; alternatively park at El Porto and walk about 350 yards north.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Hotels and other accommodations are available in El Segundo and nearby beach communities.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental shops are available in nearby areas.
- Gear Storage
- Limited public storage; most facilities are private club-based or associated with specific schools.
- Gear Repair
- Surfboard repair shops available in the surrounding South Bay area.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at El Segundo Beach Jetty?
The best overall months at El Segundo Beach Jetty are December, January, February, November.
Which wind directions work at El Segundo Beach Jetty?
El Segundo Beach Jetty works with NE winds. Offshore directions are NE.
What skill level is El Segundo Beach Jetty suitable for?
El Segundo Beach Jetty suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.