Fort Pierce South Jetty
- Wave, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Flat, Small waves, Medium waves
- Spot Type
- Busy
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Fort Pierce South Jetty is a jetty-based spot on Florida’s east coast where winter cold fronts are the main driver of consistent wind. Kite conditions are best when the wind comes from the north, northeast, or northwest, with the strongest seasonal window centered on January through April, plus November and December. For kitesurfing, riders get relatively flat to small-wave water that’s still capable of providing riding interest as wave height increases. The jetty setup is also tied to surf quality: the structure supports a reliable sandbar and helps groom peeling right-hand waves, with conditions generally described as good and often offering medium ride lengths. Water safety is a major consideration at this specific launch area. Sources highlight fast-moving inlet water, heavy boat traffic, and the rock jetty itself as key hazards. Strong rip currents are also reported, and there are additional concerns such as submerged rocks near the jetty and occasional debris. Shark activity is specifically called out as part of the local risk picture. Access is straightforward via I-95 to the Fort Pierce exit with follow-through signage to the beach. Practical facilities include showers and toilets, along with parking at the jetty access, though rescue availability is described as limited/no at the spot—so risk management and conservative decision-making are important, especially when currents and boat traffic increase.
- Winter/spring wind reliability from N, NE, and NW
- Jetty-groomed sandbar surf with long peeling right-hand waves
- Showers and toilets plus on-site parking access
- Reliable winter/spring wind from the north to northwest
- Jetty-groomed waves are capable of good-quality surf (long peeling rights)
- Clean water and basic facilities including restrooms and showers
- Heavy boat traffic in the inlet and very fast-moving water can make the water hazardous
- Rock jetty hazards and strong currents near the inlet mouth
- Shark activity is a known concern
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NE, NW
- Offshore directions
- W, NW
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Reliable winter/spring cold fronts; winter and early spring are the prime months for wind.
- Reliability
- Seasonal; very reliable during winter/spring fronts
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Reported gustiness is moderate.
- Best Months
- January, February, March, April, May, November, December
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Small waves, Medium waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Reported as small to medium waves for wind sports; surf is described as sandbar waves with moderate power.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach south of the rock jetty.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Launch described as moderate; shore break can challenge beach launches in heavier conditions.
Through the year
Popular on weekends and during good swells; surfers congregate near the jetty.
June–November (Atlantic hurricane season); frequent afternoon thunderstorms in summer
By sport
What to expect for each.
Flat water with small to medium waves; best with N, NE, or NW winds (prime conditions in winter and early spring).
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Excellent wave sailing conditions during winter fronts, though the beach launch can be challenging during heavy shore break.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.5–6 m²
Suitable for foiling once past the shore break; riders should stay clear of the jetty rocks.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly once clear of the immediate break zone.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
The south jetty creates a reliable sandbar and produces consistent right-hand sandbar surf, with the jetty helping groom long peeling rides.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- NE, ENE, E
- Swell Height
- 1–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Mid tide is reported as optimal.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Jetty structure provides some shelter compared with fully exposed ocean breaks.
- Wind Effect
- Reported offshore effect in W/NW winds; jetty provides some protection from N winds.
- Bigger Swell
- Can hold significant size but becomes heavy with strong currents.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Wave quality is reported as good.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Overall wave power is moderate.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Waves peel into long right-hand rides.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Jetty grooming supports peeling rights; speed is described as medium.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Jetty helps groom the swell into long rights.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- The jetty helps groom the swell into long, peeling rights.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Fort Pierce South Jetty in the full forecast view.
Fort Pierce South Jetty wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 10–19 ktsGusts 31 kts
- Direction
- NE41°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2519 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.4–3.4 m9s period
- Temperature
- 23–27 °C
Over the next 7 days, Fort Pierce South Jetty is forecast for daytime winds of 10–19 kts, peaking around 19 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 31 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 1.4–3.4 m with a period of about 9s. 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
- ships
- mole
- rock jetty
- heavy boat traffic in the inlet
- strong rip currents
- submerged rocks near the jetty
- sharks
- occasional driftwood or debris
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard coverage is reported for the area.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Rescue availability is reported as no at this spot.
- Emergency Info
- In case of emergency, dial 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Moderate localism; be respectful of lineup/right-of-way near the jetty.
Rules of the spot
Stay south of the jetty. Do not kite inside the inlet channel due to intense boat traffic and extreme currents. No kiting in designated swimming areas; respect other water users near the jetty.
- No kiting in designated swimming areas
- Respect local surfers near the jetty
- Avoid the inlet channel (heavy boat traffic and extreme currents)
- Watch for the area's shark reputation; this area is known for high shark activity.
- Parking at nearby jetty access is the easiest way to set up quickly.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Fort Pierce Shores
- Nearest Town
- Fort Pierce
- Parking
- Public parking available at Fort Pierce South Jetty / Jetty Park (South Jetty).
- Access
- I 95 to Ft. Pierce exit. Follow signs to the beach.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Hotels and vacation rentals are available in Fort Pierce and along A1A.
- Food & Drink
- Several restaurants and bars are within walking distance of the jetty.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is available from nearby services along A1A and in Fort Pierce.
- Gear Storage
- Limited storage facilities; most riders use personal vehicles.
- Gear Repair
- Minor board repairs and kite repairs can be serviced locally.
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 Fort Pierce South Jetty?
The best overall months at Fort Pierce South Jetty are November, December, January, February, March, April, May. The best wind months are January, February, March, April, May, November, December.
Which wind directions work at Fort Pierce South Jetty?
Fort Pierce South Jetty works with N, NE, NW winds. Offshore directions are W, NW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Fort Pierce South Jetty?
Recommended equipment sizes at Fort Pierce South Jetty: Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4.5–6 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Fort Pierce South Jetty suitable for?
Fort Pierce South Jetty suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Advanced · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Intermediate.