Overview
61st Street is a jetty and pier setup over sand, with lefts and rights and a fairly consistent bottom. The north side tends to be better, but either side can work, and good sandbanks often form north of the jetty and T-head pier. With the right conditions, peaks can show up along the seawall.
When It Works
The spot is moderately consistent and is usable from 0.3 m / 1 ft to 1.8 m / 6 ft. It can be waist high to a few feet overhead, with fun peaks and a few barrels when there is swell.
Swell from southeast to south works, with southeast as the optimal direction. The better seasons are spring and autumn, especially late summer into fall and late winter through mid-spring.
Wind and Tide
The offshore wind direction is northwest. North and northwest winds are useful here, and west-northwest can work with a swell.
Medium to high tide is common for better surf, and a rising tide is better.
Local Tips
Shortboards are the standout choice here, though funboards and fish also fit the spot. The rip by the jetty can help with the paddle out, but longshore currents often make it hard to stay in position on the pier bowls.
Crowds are moderate overall, but the best peaks near the jetty can get dense and competitive on good days. It spreads out farther from the jetty. Watch for angry fishermen.
Water quality is often not great because of Houston shipping channel proximity and Galveston runoff, and pollution can still be an issue.
Access
Access is easy from the seawall, with paid parking, roadside meters, and a car park. The meters fill up quickly.
Facilities include restrooms, showers, a lifeguard, a surf school, and a surf shop.
