Oceanside and Southern California are probably most well known for their waves and surf culture. Every year, thousands of people flock to Oceanside in search of great weather and to drink in all that that the coastal life has to offer.
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When visiting Oceanside, one of the most common questions asked is, “where’s the best place to surf around here?” Oceanside boasts over 3.5 miles of white sand beaches and lots of sandbars which make the surf here enjoyable from most any spot.
That said, The Oceanside Pier is the best place to surf in Oceanside. Even in summer, Oceanside Pier produces very fun and shapely Oceanside waves. Both sides of the pier are very popular and on a good day can be quite crowded. But most of the time there is good surf right around the pier. Kimball Taylor of Surfline writes,
“These spots will most often have a crew of surfers on them, but, on better days, the peaks up and down the beach will be just as good. Oceanside is angled to receive southwest swells more readily than the beaches of central San Diego County, and, during southwest swells, it attracts surfers from all parts of SD.”
While the pier is definitely the best place to surf in Oceanside, the north side jetties by the Harbor are definitely a close second. Most locals agree that when the surf is small, the best place to paddle out at is in the Harbor because it will be biggest there. Sandiegosurfers.com writes,
“There is a large jetty to the North of the beach and during a strong South swell, it can produce some amazing rights that peel off into the beach. To the South of the beach there is another jetty which is usually a tad more crowded but can also produce some really fun waves with the right conditions.”
The South-Southwest and West-Northwest swells are the best to look out for around here, but southwest is the by far most ideal time to go out. As far as the tides are concerned, medium to high tide is generally the best conditions for surfing.
So the next time you’re in Oceanside, be sure to bring your board and some wax (wetsuit optional) cause the surf’s up!
