Surf: General: The best bets for good surf are mixed, combo swells and hope for defined sandbars. All spots south of Manhattan are increasingly shadowed from south/summer swell and rely primarily on southwest, west, and northwest swells. Marine Street is usually the best south swell spot in Manhattan. The beachbreaks are usually walled with some better-shaped waves near the Manhattan Pier. Tides: low to medium Size: chest-high to double overhead Wind: E, SE Swell: SW, WSW, W, WNW combo swells Bottom: Sand Paddling: Not bad when it is small, plenty of work to be had when it is pumping. Spot Rating: Typically a hopeless closeout but can be really good when the rest of SoCal struggles. Access: Easy, various local streets and lots. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Usually pretty spread out. Local Vibe: Minor. Environment: It's the middle of LA. Hazards: Negotiating closeouts. Season: October-April