Overview
Westport sits on the outer edge of Grays Harbor, a jetty setup on Washington's Olympic Peninsula coast with two breaks worth knowing. The South Jetty is a standard jetty break that gets very good on occasion. Half Moon Bay, tucked around the jetty into the harbor entrance, is a crescent of white sand, driftwood and dunes below a Coast Guard watchtower, with the jetties and Westport marina to the north. It's a shallow, flat-bottomed beachbreak that runs hollow and fast for a section or two, and it comes into its own during the big south-wind stretches of winter. The north end is bigger but windier, with dumpy, short waves you can still get shacked on. Nobody comes for the scenery, but on the right day it's genuinely invaluable.
When It Works
The waves break over sand and peel both right and left. It draws swell from south through west-southwest to northwest and is usable from 1.2 m / 4 ft to 2.1 m / 7 ft, with a season running through summer, autumn and winter. This is a below-average spot overall, more funky sandbars and closeouts than clean walls, but the setup can turn on when the swell and wind line up.
Wind and Tide
Look for east-northeast offshore wind to clean it up, with a workable wind window running from north-northeast through east to southeast. It's best on a rising tide and works through mid and high tide.
Local Tips
The lineup stays fairly quiet and can feel a little reserved. It suits everyone from beginners to experts, and you can ride just about anything, shortboard, funboard, longboard or fish. Come prepared for cold water, rips and howling onshores.
Access
From Highway 101, exit onto Highway 105 to reach Westport and the beachbreaks to the south. For Half Moon Bay, head about a half-mile down the Westhaven State Park road, then turn right onto the rocky, potholed sand lane to the parking lot right in front of the break. Another half-mile down the paved road brings you to the South Jetty parking lot.
