Surf: General: From Santa Monica to Dockweiler, you'll find a series of piers and breakwaters that are generally well below average. Spots include Santa Monica, Venice, Playa del Rey and the ever-popular Ballona Creek, one of the most polluted storm drains in Los Angeles. One of the better stretches of this area is Santa Monica's Bay Street, primarily because it has the best parking. As with most spots in this area, Bay Street works best when there are holes in the sand or during a crossed-up swell. Tides: medium coming up Size: chest-high to a couple feet overhead Wind: NE, E, ESE Swell: SW, WSW, W, WNW combo swells Bottom: sand Paddling: Not bad. Spot Rating: Mostly closed-out beachbreak unless there are holes in the sand or a mix of swells. Access: Big parking lot at end of Bay Street. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Rarely crowded, except for midsummer zoo. Local Vibe: Peace and love. Environment: It's right outside of the city and can get particularly bad after a rainfall. Hazards: Parking lot. Season: March-May and September-November best but breaks year-round.