The Wedge
Jetty-amplified shorebreak at the tip of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. The jetty wall doubles incoming south swell back on itself into a wedge-shaped peak that breaks in shallow water close to the sand. Bodysurf and bodyboard wave.
When it’s on
The Wedge works best on a SSE to SW swell. Light offshore wind from the northeast through east. The wedge mechanics work across the tide window; size dictates the peak.
Spot intel
- Parking
- Free street parking around the peninsula tip and metered city lots nearby. Walk-in only. No surfboard rental, no commercial access. Lots fill at first light on any south swell.
- Crowd
- Thick on south-swell days. Bodysurf and bodyboard lineup runs locally rotated. Stand-up surfboards are prohibited during posted blackball hours (May through October, 10:00 to 17:00), which shapes the lineup composition through the summer.
- Beginner-friendly?
No.
A jetty-doubled wedge breaking in shallow water onto sand has produced documented spinal and neck injuries across multiple seasons. Not a wave to enter without prior shorebreak experience.
- Famous for
- The Wedge in Newport Beach. A wedging shorebreak shaped by the Newport Harbor jetty that funnels south swell into a steep, dredging peak. The West Coast’s signature bodysurfing and bodyboarding venue.
- Lineup etiquette
- Shorebreak priority is per-wave to the deepest rider. The local bodysurf and bodyboard rotation runs the peak.
Where it breaks
- Coordinates
- 33.5917, -117.8819
- Shore faces
- SSW
- Region
- Central OC, California
Common questions
- What swell direction is best for The Wedge?
- The Wedge works best on a SSE to SW swell.
- How big does The Wedge need to be?
- The Wedge is best in the 4-12ft range on a 14-20s period.
- What are the best conditions at The Wedge?
- Light or offshore wind under about 10 knots, with the tide around 1-4ft.
- Where is The Wedge?
- The Wedge is a heavy shorebreak wedge in Central OC, California. The beach faces SSW.
- Does GhostFingers forecast The Wedge?
- Yes. GhostFingers grades The Wedge with a six-tier verdict from swell height, period, direction, tide, and wind. iPhone, winter 2026.
Nearby spots
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