Dawn patrol surfing in Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California
Recommendations refresh every 30 minutes based on tide, wind, and crowd telemetry from Quiver.
First light in Manhattan Beach means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 3 spots are worth the 5am alarm.
Top spot recommendations
Sort your quiver, choose the right tide window, and jot down a backup in case the main peak gets stacked.
Featured Beaches
3 spots
El Porto
IntermediateEl Porto is the premier surf spot in the South Bay and one of the most consistent.
El Porto (Manhattan)
Beginner friendlyEl Porto (Manhattan Beach) functions as South Bay's northwest swell magnet rated 7/10 for consistency despite variable quality.
Manhattan Beach Pier
IntermediateThe sandbars north and south of Manhattan Beach Pier provide consistent beach-break peaks with both lefts and rights. Summer southwest swells and offshore east winds create the best conditions. The waves can be fun for intermediates but rips are common and the lineup is often crowded.
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What to focus on today
- Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
- Less crowded lineups at sunrise
- East-facing beaches for sunrise views
- Spots with easy parking for early arrivals
Session logging tips
Once you wrap the surf, drop a note in your Quiver journal with tide, board, and crowd observations. Over time you'll see crystal-clear patterns about when Manhattan Beach rewards this type of session objective.
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