North Jetty is arguably the best and most photogenic wave in the Humboldt area. The setup is a semi-permanent sandbar shaped by the longshore current: as the current hits the jetty, it carves a deep, hollow channel in the sand, which makes for an easy, dry-hair paddle-out. Getting out is the easy part. The peak starts breaking 200 to 300 feet from shore and pushes farther out as the swell builds, topping out around triple overhead. Two waves define the spot, a short, hollow right and a longer, bowling left.
When It Works
Breaking over sand, North Jetty draws its swell from west to northwest (W-NW) and works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft, ranging from chest high on the smaller days to well overhead when it's firing. The season runs through autumn and winter, roughly September to February, and it delivers a fun, rewarding wave when everything lines up.
Wind and Tide
Look for east-southeast (ESE) offshore wind, with a workable window stretching from east to southeast (E-SE). It breaks on low and mid tide, and a rising tide is generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is a wave for confident surfers, intermediate to expert, and it suits a shortboard or a gun once it gets big. As the most popular spot on the Lost Coast, expect a busy but friendly lineup when it's on. Sharks are a possibility out there, but otherwise there's little to worry about.
Access
Getting there is easy. Take Samoa Boulevard (Route 255) from Eureka or Arcata and drive until the ocean comes into view at Samoa.
