Surf: General: The Ventura Harbor has long been a hotbed of hardcore surf talent and things haven't changed much over the years. When it’s on here you’ll find some of the best surfers in California backdooring overhead wedges — the caliber of talent in the water during any given session can be next level. Good on both solid west swells, as well as locally generated wind swell, the shifting sandbars are at their best during the fall and winter months. Below the jetty on the southside of the harbor mouth is the preferred zone when the winds are blowing offshore and it’s pumping. The local scene can be somewhat uninviting to outsiders, so if you do plan on trying to trade barrels with the men and women who surf here regularly, respect should be given and strict adherence to surfing etiquette are a must. Tides: low to medium Size: shoulder high to a couple feet overhead Wind: E Swell: Combo of swells S, SW with WSW, W, WNW Bottom: Sand Paddling: Average most days with work on the rise when it is pumping. Spot Rating: Can be a fun, punchy wave. Access: Easy, park at South Jetty. Crowds: Crowd Factor: None to moderate. Local Vibe: Moderate. Environment: Manageable but can be rough after a rain. Hazards: The army corps of Engineers. Season: January-December