Corona Del Mar Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a pretty quiet stretch ahead for the next few weeks, so keep your expectations in check. The main break to watch is Corona Del Mar Jetty, a breakwater setup that’s fairly exposed to the swell. The water is running 72°F right now, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a real treat if you’re paddling out.

The first week is looking pretty flat and messy. We kick off Sunday the 23rd with tiny 1ft swell from the southwest, but the wave energy is weak (253) and the conditions are poor. Monday the 24th through Tuesday the 3rd of September is a whole lot of nothing special. The swell stays small, mostly around 2ft to 2ft, with a mix of cross-shore and onshore winds. The wave energy is moderate, bouncing between 201 and 428, but the surf quality is consistently marginal or poor. There’s a long gap here with no real standouts.

This spot is fairly consistent in terms of swell showing up, but the quality is just not there for a good paddle session. Most of the time the wind is either cross or cross-on, which keeps things bumpy. The period is generally short to moderate, around 11 to 17 seconds, so not much power behind it.

Now, if you’re willing to wait, things start to look a bit more interesting around the end of the first week of September. On Thursday the 5th of September, the swell picks up to 4ft from the SSW with a period of 17 seconds. The combined energy jumps to a strong 1359, and the morning has light winds. It’s still marked as marginal, but that’s the best we’ve seen. The wind is straight onshore, though, so the surface won’t be glassy.

Then on Sunday the 7th of September, we see the biggest swell of the outlook: 5ft to 6ft from the S, with a period around 14 seconds. The energy is strong, hitting 1381. However, the wind is onshore, and the surf quality is still marginal. This is getting into the territory where it’s too big for beginners and better for more experienced surfers. The period is moderate, so it won’t be the most organized wave.

Honestly, the standout moment is the morning of Thursday the 5th of September. It’s the most promising window with the biggest swell and decent energy, but it’s not a home run. The wind isn’t perfect, and the break is a breakwater, so it’s not going to handle a perfect long-period groundswell like a point break would. Crowds are likely at Corona Del Mar Jetty, so expect company.

If you’re looking for clean, glassy conditions, there’s no real window for that here. The wind stays mostly cross or onshore. For the bigger days on the 7th, with that strong onshore flow, it might actually be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So, overall, it’s a lean period. The first week is a write-off. The second week has a little more size, but the quality is still a question mark. The best bet is to keep an eye on the morning of the 5th of September. It’s a long way out, so treat it as promising but not a guarantee.

Rusty.

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