Redondo Beach Surf Guide (2024) + 6 Best Surf Spots

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Located towards the southern end of the South Bay LA, Redondo Beach is a surprising hidden gem for surfing. Read through this comprehensive guide to Redondo Beach surf to learn about the surf conditions, best breaks, surf lessons, and more.

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👉🏼 Sapphire St. is the best Redondo surf spot
🏄🏽‍♀️ This is the best private surf lesson
☀️ November to March has the best conditions
🌊 Waves are on average 2-3 ft.

I grew up in Redondo Beach but didn’t start surfing until I went to college in Santa Barbara. Soon after I returned home from school the pandemic started and one of the few things that was still open and safe to do was surf. So, I got really into surfing!

Fast forward to now, I’ve been surfing in Redondo Beach and the Los Angeles / Orange County areas consistently for a few years, and have been able to dial in my favorite spots and learn the trends in conditions.

Redondo Beach is my go-to spot not only for the convenience but because I truly believe you can find some of the best waves in this stretch of the LA county coastline. I’m happy to share what I’ve learned about surfing in my home break, but please, stay respectful and mindful of the locals and keep sharing the stoke!

Is Redondo Beach Good for Surfing?

Yes! Redondo Beach has a couple of excellent spots that break well throughout the year. These spots hold a wave fairly well with the right conditions and are not horribly crowded.

Both beginner and more advanced surfers can find some fun rides here.

Does Redondo Beach Have Good Waves?

Yes, Redondo Beach has good waves to surf. The waves found here are characteristic of a southern California beach break. Meaning, they often break steep and fast.

While the waves can be challenging and at times break uncomfortably close to shore, I will explain where and when you can find fun waves that still hold up well and make surfing in Redondo Beach worthwhile.

Are There Any Hazards to Watch Out For?

Redondo Beach is generally a very safe place to surf. The biggest hazards to watch out for are:

• High surf – most common in the winter
• Rip currents – not a terrible concern, most common in the winter
• Waves breaking on the shore – easy to get slammed into the sand
• Stingrays – most common in the summer
• Animals – not really a hazard but don’t get freaked out if you see dolphins or seals near you and give them space!
• Crowds – With proximity to LA comes crowded surf spots, but luckily most of the spots here are beach breaks where you can spread out and find a less crowded peak.

How Big Are the Waves at Redondo Beach?

It depends on the time of year and conditions, but most often the waves are around 2-3 feet.

In the summer, the waves are smaller and can range anywhere from non-existent to about 3 feet. Conversely in the winter, you may find a big swell comes in that brings waves up to 7 feet and beyond.

The spring and fall are great shoulder seasons for surfing with many days in an ideal 2-4 foot range.

Weather and Water Temperature

Redondo Beach has a mild, Mediterranean-like climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The water temperature is refreshing in the summer and cold in the winter – but doable with the proper wetsuit.

Here is a breakdown of average weather and water conditions each month throughout the year:

MONTH	WATER TEMP. (°F)	HIGH / LOW (°F)	RAIN
January	57° – 59°	67° / 47°	5 days
February	57° – 59°	67° / 48°	5 days
March	56° – 59°	68° / 50°	4 days
April	56° – 60°	70° / 52°	1 days
May	59° – 62°	72° / 56°	0 days
June	61° – 66°	75° / 59°	0 days
July	65° – 68°	78° / 62°	0 days
August	64° – 68°	79° / 63°	0 days
September	62° – 67°	78° / 62°	0 days
October	61° – 65°	76° / 57°	1 days
November	60° – 63°	71° / 51°	2 days
December	59° – 63°	67° / 47°	1 day

Redondo Beach Yearly Surf Conditions

In general, surf spots in Redondo Beach need a WSW, W, WNW, or NW swell direction to break, offshore winds, and low to medium tide. This combination is typically at its best from November to March, with a chance of decent conditions in the surrounding months.

Generally, winter is known to be California’s best surf season but this is not always the best surf season for EVERYONE as it can bring big swells that aren’t doable for beginner/intermediate surfers.

The spots mentioned on this list are typically very small over the summer and start to slowly pick up again around mid-October to November. Some spots won’t even break over the summer without a western swell coming in.

Redondo gets more offshore winds in the winter months, making the conditions cleaner, and typically gets less wind in general over the summer.

Here is a breakdown of average surf conditions by month:

MONTH	WAVE HEIGHT RANGE	WIND Offshore / Onshore
January	66% of the time: 1.5 to 4ft 18% – 4 to 6.5 ft 6% – 6.5 to 10ft 10% – no swell	52% / 44%
February	62% – 1.5 to 4ft 23% – 4 to 6.5 ft 5% – 6.5 to 10ft 10% – no swell	43% / 51%
March	62% – 1.5 to 4ft 23% – 4 to 6.5 ft 5% – 6.5 to 10ft 10% – no swell	24% / 45%
April	36% – 1.5 to 4ft 15% – 4 to 6.5 ft 4% – 6.5 to 10ft 45% – no swell	19% / 36%
May	35% – 1.5 to 4ft 10% – 4 to 6.5 ft 1% – 6.5 to 10ft 54% – no swell	18% / 29%
June	34% – 1.5 to 4ft 4% – 4 to 6.5 ft 0.4% – 6.5 to 10ft 62% – no swell	18% / 20%
July	30% – 1.5 to 4ft 1% – 4 to 6.5 ft 0% – 6.5 to 10ft 69% – no swell	14% / 19%
August	30% – 1.5 to 4ft 1% – 4 to 6.5 ft 0% – 6.5 to 10ft 69% – no swell	14% / 17%
September	39% – 1.5 to 4ft 1% – 4 to 6.5 ft 0% – 6.5 to 10ft 60% – no swell	20% / 21%
October	51% – 1.5 to 4ft 5% – 4 to 6.5 ft 1% – 6.5 to 10ft 43% – no swell	27% / 31%
November	63% – 1.5 to 4ft 8% – 4 to 6.5 ft 1% – 6.5 to 10ft 28% – no swell	36% / 40%
December	68% – 1.5 to 4ft 15% – 4 to 6.5 ft 4% – 6.5 to 10ft 13% – no swell	46% / 45%

Best Spots to Surf in Redondo Beach (North to South)

There are a handful of excellent spots to surf in Redondo Beach. Starting from the north to the south where the beach meets the Palos Verdes Peninsula, here are some spots for you to check out.

1. Redondo Breakwater

Crowds: Light
Parking: Paid public parking at Hopkins Way and Yacht Club Way, near the Chart House

This spot is not one I frequent often, but if there is a big swell or decent conditions, it can be a fun location. The breakwater helps smooth the waves as they come in and you end up with what can be a quick, fun left.

This spot doesn’t tend to get too crowded and is easiest to get to for those coming from the north.

2. Sapphire St. (Topaz Jetty)

⭐️ Best for beginners

Crowds: Medium to Crowded
Parking: Free street parking

This is my favorite spot to surf in Redondo Beach (and maybe even all of the South Bay honestly). The jetty here also helps break up the surf to smooth out the waves and shelter some of the biggest parts of the swell.

Sapphire tends to stay a bit smaller and calmer than the southern beach spots to the left of the jetty but still packs a fun, quick wave.

You can get a nice left right off the jetty where the short boarders tend to sit, or on a good day, there is another peak or two to the right where you can often split the peak in either direction.

The downside of this spot is that it can get really crowded, especially on a nice summer day. Sapphire draws beginners, surf lessons, and children which can make navigating the crowds tough and can be frustrating for more advanced surfers.

3. Knob Hill

⭐️ Best All-Around

Crowds: Light to Medium
Parking: Free along Knob Hill and inland streets, meters along the Esplanade

Located to the left of the jetty, Knob Hill is a bit more advanced beach break but can be a great all-around spot for all levels of surfers. Right off the jetty, you can find a nice right, or there are plenty of beach breaks as you head south down the beach.

Lately, the sand bars have been making it extra challenging with the waves breaking right on the shore, but this will hopefully change again soon!

The waves can be fast and steep, often curling and closing out real quick. However, I’ve had some exceptional days here when the conditions are favorable.

This spot tends to draw more short boarders and intermediate to advanced surfers, though, on a smaller day, even beginners could surf here.

TIP: There are multiple peaks down the beach, but it’s easiest to paddle out right by the jetty to use the current there.

4. Torrance Beach

Crowds: Light to Medium
Parking: Meters along Esplanade, paid public lots around Miramar Park, and very limited free parking on Paseo de la Playa

Torrance Beach is very similar to Knob Hill in the sense that it’s a stretch of beach breaks. Some people prefer going down here and others prefer Knob Hill. The main difference for me is parking can be a bit harder and more expensive at the lot here at Torrance Beach.

Generally, I prefer Knob Hill, I find the jetty helps waves break a bit better. However, I did recently surf Torrance Beach when Knob Hill was looking too big and like it wasn’t holding its shape very well, and Torrance seemed to hold up slightly better with those bigger waves. So – worth checking out as well!

There are also beach rentals here and Perry’s Cafe, which makes Torrance Beach better for families or those looking to set up shop for the day.

5. RAT Beach

Crowds: Light
Parking: Free parking at the Paseo Del Mar Beach Parking lot and walk down the cliff path, or park at Torrance Beach and walk across the beach

A lesser-known beach to non-locals, RAT Beach is tucked into the corner of where the sandy beaches meet the PV peninsula. Another beach break, the waves can often be smaller and more sheltered, which works well for beginners though they still break fast and can close out easily.

I don’t find that the waves are particularly good here, but often if our favorite PV spots are not breaking we will end up here out of convenience.

The best part is it’s harder to get to and not as well known, so it tends to be empty or at least way less crowded than other parts of Redondo Beach.

6. Haggerty’s

Crowds: Light to Medium
Parking: Paseo Del Mar Beach Parking

I always thought RAT Beach and Haggerty’s were the same until recently. This spot takes a very big winter swell to break, the rest of the South Bay was forecasting 10 feet+ on the day I saw it light up, but the waves here were maybe 4-5 feet.

Haggerty’s will break further to the southwest than RAT beach, right at the tip of the first bend in the peninsula. When it breaks here, the waves are long and rolling and are so uniquely and amazingly different than the rest of these Redondo beach break spots – it’s lovely! But sadly doesn’t happen very often.

I wasn’t bold enough to get out and try that day since we were getting huge storm waves, it was crowded (everywhere else was insanely massive), and getting out seemed tough.

Some bold people clambered down the cliff face to the rocks to paddle out, or you could take the cliff path but you would end up with a long walk along the rocks and a very tiring paddle.

This is not a spot that will work very often for you, but on the off chance you’re here during a bigger winter swell – might as well check it out!

What Gear Do You Need to Surf in Redondo Beach?

To catch waves in Redondo Beach, you will need:

• Surfboard
• Wetsuit or spring suit – the water is cool to cold year-round
• Leash – most spots are too crowded to not use one
• Wax
• Rash guard and/or board shorts – summer sun and rash protection
• Sunscreen: Water-resistant, ideally a higher SPF, and reef-safe (not necessary but it’s better for our oceans regardless of surfing over a reef)

With surfboards, choose a size suitable for your skill level. Most people use shortboards on the quick beach breaks, but depending on the spot/conditions foamies and longboards can definitely be used too.

Generally, a 3/2 wetsuit should be acceptable for most of the year. *I have a Sisstr wetsuit right now that I like, and O’Neill is a good brand too.

In the winter, many people go up to a 4/3 and/or layer up with booties, a hood, and sometimes even gloves (I get cold easily and only do this in the very dead of winter).

Spring suits are great for spring and fall and over the summer you likely won’t need a wetsuit at all.

Redondo Beach Surf Lessons

Are you new to surfing and want to start with a lesson? Check out this private group surf lesson. It’s a two-hour lesson that includes surfboard and wetsuit rentals. You will begin with some basic footwork on the beach before your instructor helps you paddle out, catch waves, and improve your technique.

👉🏼 CHECK AVAILABILITY & PRICING HERE

Two more options for you to check out if that one doesn’t suit your fancy: Redondo Surf Club or Perfect Day Surf Camp.

Board Rentals

There aren’t surf gear rentals directly on the beach in Redondo, except for Perry’s Cafe at Torrance Beach which seems to sometimes have foam surfboards out for rent, but it’s inconsistent. Your best bet will be to rent from Dive N’ Surf at the pier and walk your board down to Sapphire St.

Or, take a surf lesson, which will include rentals.

Best Post-Surf Meals

Of course, after a good long surf, you’ll want to fuel up and grab something to eat! There are plenty of excellent restaurants around, but a few of my favorites for a post-surf bite to eat are:

• Phanny’s – great breakfast burritos
• Wildflower Cafe
• Yellow Vase
• Hi-Fi Espresso – for coffee
• Beach Bowls Açaí Cafe
• Poke Rainbow
• Good Stuff Restaurant

These are a few of the more casual eateries, but there are quite a few excellent restaurants that are a bit more high-end and sit-down if that’s what you prefer.

What Else Is Redondo Beach Known For?

Redondo Beach isn’t just about surfing, it offers plenty of other diverse attractions such as:

• Redondo Beach Pier: Iconic structure with shops and dining.
• Various Water Sports: If the surf isn’t good, try out a SUP, kayak, or pedal boat.
• Seafood Scene: Delicious oceanfront dining options.
• Annual Events: Vibrant festivals (such as BeachLife!) and local events.
• Whale-Watching: Opportunities to spot marine life.
• Hermosa Beach Pier: Great for nightlife with a fun bar and live entertainment scene.

⭐️ For more fun things to do in Redondo Beach, you can read my full guide here. ⭐️

FAQs

SUMMARY: Redondo Beach Surf

Redondo Beach is a lovely hidden gem in Los Angeles for those looking for an epic surf spot or simply to try their hand at learning the sport. The best time to visit Redondo to surf is between November to March, though there’s a chance of good surf year-round. Beyond the surf, Redondo Beach is an adorable seaside town with plenty to see and explore and you will not be disappointed by stopping in this lovely South Bay City!

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