Ventura County, California
Best window·Friday 7AM–10AM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at The Ranch - Cojo Reef, Ventura County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with gentle NNW breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 22mph by PM.
Wed, Jul 1: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 10s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 10s with gentle NNW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 17mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 17s with 9mph from the NNW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions with light winds out of the NNW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
Cojo Reef is a powerful reef break located on the remote Ventura County coast that peels off consistent, well-defined waves over a rocky reef bottom. The spot's northern exposure captures winter swells perfectly, with the reef producing hollow tubes and punchy walls that demand solid paddling skills and wave knowledge. This is a relatively uncrowded gem for experienced surfers willing to venture to the less-traveled stretches of the Central Coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at The Ranch - Cojo Reef is 2ft with a 9.8s swell period. Wind is NNW at 10mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at The Ranch - Cojo Reef is 2ft, produced by a 4.1ft WNW primary swell at 10s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.6ft SW tertiary swell at 14s. 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 The Ranch - Cojo Reef is Friday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
The Ranch - Cojo Reef works best with a NW swell and NNW 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 The Ranch - Cojo Reef. 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.
The Ranch - Cojo Reef is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Cojo Reef is a powerful reef break located on the remote Ventura County coast that peels off consistent, well-defined waves over a rocky reef bottom. The spot's northern exposure captures winter swells perfectly, with the reef producing hollow tubes and punchy walls that demand solid paddling skills and wave knowledge. This is a relatively uncrowded gem for experienced surfers willing to venture to the less-traveled stretches of the Central Coast.
The prime season at The Ranch - Cojo Reef is winter, 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 The Ranch - Cojo Reef include strong currents, shallow reef, rocks, localism, remote location. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our The Ranch - Cojo Reef 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
