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GhostFingers · Orange County · Central OC

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.

Central OC Famous spot

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.

When it's on

South through southwest groundswell, the bigger and longer-period the better, with light offshore wind from the northeast through east. The wedge mechanics work across the tide window; size dictates 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 S 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, summer 2026.

New to reading a forecast? Start here.

Launching summer 2026.

Six-tier verdicts for every California break, calibrated to swell, period, direction, tide, and wind.

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