Bay Street is a sand-bottomed beachbreak in Santa Monica, and one of the better stretches along the run of piers and breakwaters from Santa Monica down to Dockweiler, largely because it has the best parking in the area. Rights and lefts are both on offer, but this is a below-average beachbreak that closes out much of the time. It comes to life mainly when there are holes in the sand or a crossed-up combo swell to break things up.
When It Works
The bank draws swell from south to west, and it's at its best on combo swells stacking in from more than one direction. Bay Street is usable from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft, roughly chest-high up to a couple of feet overhead. It breaks year-round, but spring and autumn are the standout windows, with March through May and September through November delivering the best of it.
Wind and Tide
Look for a northeast offshore wind, with a workable window running from north through east-northeast to east-southeast. The break can work across low, mid, and high tide, though a rising tide is generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is an approachable spot for beginners and intermediates, and it takes a wide range of equipment, from shortboards, fish, and funboards to longboards, bodyboards, skimboards, and bodysurfing. The paddle out isn't bad. Expect a fairly quiet lineup most of the time, apart from a midsummer crowd, and a generally reserved feel in the water.
Access
A big parking lot sits at the end of Bay Street, and that easy parking is a large part of the appeal. The spot is right outside the city, so water quality can drop off after rainfall.
