Overview
Exmouth is a rare, walling left that breaks over a sandy bottom lined with groynes in front of Marine Drive. When a big groundswell rolls down the channel, fun lefts and the occasional right peel out past the lifeboat station by the breakwaters. It is fickle and inconsistent, more of an occasional treat than a reliable session, but it can be genuinely fun when everything lines up.
When It Works
The spot needs real size to turn on, waking up when a big southwest to west (SW-W) groundswell or a winter storm pushes down the channel. Expect it mainly from December through February. Waves run from thigh-high to overhead, with a working range of 0.6 m / 2 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft. It is often onshore even when it breaks, so the windows can be short.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast (NE) offshore wind to clean it up. The break works through the tides, from low through mid to high, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
The wave suits beginners and intermediates, and it handles just about any craft, from shortboards, fish, and funboards to longboards, SUPs, and bodyboards. When word gets out that it is on, the lineup can fill with an insane mix of wavecraft, from foils to inflatable SUPs, so keep an eye out for bailed boards, foils, and the groynes. The atmosphere tends to stay a little reserved. Paddling is manageable unless it is big, and the spot can get nasty when it rains.
Access
Park along Marine Drive.
