New Jetty (South Jetty)

New Jetty (South Jetty) at the Ventura Harbor mouth is a fairly exposed sandy beach break known for producing hollow, beach-break waves over a sandy bottom. The south jetty influences the shape of the sand and wave peaks, creating fast, vertical sections and occasional barrel opportunities, with waves breaking both ways (lefts and rights). Descriptions also note it can break up to around 50 meters, with turns set up inside the hollow structure. Surf conditions are strongly influenced by tide and swell setup. Multiple sources indicate the most favorable window is a medium tide: if it’s too high, the wave can become fat, while too low can make it close out harder. For swell, the reported working directions are typically west through west-northwest/northwest, and the wave quality is generally described as good when the right swell and offshore grooming coincide. Wind plays a key role in surf quality here. Northeast/east winds are described as offshore or offshore-grooming, helping create clean, well-shaped faces for hollow peaks. While wind reliability is reported as medium to quite reliable depending on source, the key practical takeaway is to time sessions when the wind direction supports offshore grooming. Safety is the main operational concern. Strong rip currents are common near the jetty and the Santa Clara Rivermouth, and jetty rocks/submerged debris plus heavy shorebreak can add risk. Critically, you should avoid surfing after it rains; runoff and debris from the Santa Clara River can significantly worsen water quality, with guidance to wait at least 72 hours after rain before entering. Also be mindful of restricted areas near the harbor entrance channel and possible seasonal closures.