Ventura County, California
First light looks cleanest — 0-1ft on W swell at 5s with 8mph from the SSE.
First light looks cleanest — 0-1ft on W swell at 5s with 8mph from the SSE.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals, Ventura County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Hold off if you can — morning starts out very poor with 1-2ft waves. Later in the day looks more promising — 1-2ft and very poor.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on W swell at 4s with light winds out of the E. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the W and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 7mph by PM.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on WSW swell at 8s with light winds out of the WNW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on W swell at 5s with light WNW winds. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and very poor by then.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals turns Good.
Check Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals is a classic Southern California point break where waves peel along a rocky shoreline, offering longer, more workable rides than many nearby beach breaks. The spot picks up consistent swell from the west and southwest, with the rocky point formation creating defined wave shape and the potential for extended walls during quality swells. This scenic stretch of Ventura County coastline delivers fun intermediate-friendly waves without the intensity of heavier reef breaks, making it a rewarding destination during the best autumn swell season.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals is 0-1ft with a 4.8s swell period. Wind is E at 3mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals is 0-1ft, produced by a 2.6ft W wind swell swell at 5s, a 0.7ft WNW secondary swell at 10s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 16s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals is Sunday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 2ft waves, a 5.1s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals works best with a W swell and E winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals is a classic Southern California point break where waves peel along a rocky shoreline, offering longer, more workable rides than many nearby beach breaks. The spot picks up consistent swell from the west and southwest, with the rocky point formation creating defined wave shape and the potential for extended walls during quality swells. This scenic stretch of Ventura County coastline delivers fun intermediate-friendly waves without the intensity of heavier reef breaks, making it a rewarding destination during the best autumn swell season.
The prime season at Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals include rocks, sea urchins, strong currents, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
