Overview
Blackies is a beach break tucked between the 28th Street jetty and the Newport Pier, and it's a regional classic with a history going back to the early 1960s. These days it sits at the heart of the Newport logging scene. The peaky sandbars, fed by the nearby jetty and pier, throw mainly lefts: short, fast sections you can noseride when it's small, and hollower corners that offer barrels and punchy walls once the swell fills in. When it's really on, it can serve up long, epic wintertime sandbar lefts. Rights do break here, but they don't compare.
When It Works
Blackies draws swell from south through west-southwest to northwest (S-WSW-NW), with a west (W) swell the best match. It works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft, roughly knee- to head-high. Autumn and winter are the seasons to watch, and autumn often lines up west and south swells alongside good wind and weather. It can be somewhat inconsistent, so it pays to catch it on the right day. On long-period swells, expect a bit of current to deal with.
Wind and Tide
Look for a northeast (NE) offshore wind, the classic Santa Ana setup. It's best on low tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This break suits intermediate surfers, and it takes just about anything under your feet, from shortboards and fish to funboards, longboards, and bodyboards. It's the center of Newport's surf culture, so expect a busy lineup when it's working, with a somewhat reserved atmosphere in the water. Keep an eye out for the crowds and leashless longboards, along with the rocks and pier supports.
Access
There's free parking, including roadside spots. Paddle out between the pier and the jetty.
