The Cove (Palm Beach Jetties)

The Cove (Palm Beach Jetties) is a fairly exposed surf location at the Lake Worth Inlet jetties, with a beach-and-reef type break that is strongly influenced by tide and wind. In winter—particularly January—surf can be more reliable, but the overall pattern is that conditions are often small or not clean enough for most surfers. When it does work, the best setup reported involves a Northeast swell combining with offshore west winds. Under that alignment, waves can peel along the jetty-driven sandbank, producing good-quality surf with peeling shape and occasional fast sections. However, even in the best month (January), clean surfable waves are reported as infrequent, so planning around forecasted swell, wind, and tide is important. The takeoff/launch is sensitive and can be busy, with a small, crowded takeoff zone noted during good conditions. Hazards near the jetties include rocks, coral, and sharks, plus strong inlet currents, submerged reef sections, and boat traffic. Because the inlet channel is off-limits, surfing inside the inlet channel is restricted. Overall, it’s best thought of as a winter-focused, jetty-dependent spot where getting the tide right (mid- to high-tide guidance varies by report) and having offshore west wind are key to finding workable, groomed waves.