As far as surfers are concerned, most attempts to meddle with Mother Nature have floundered. Overdevelopment and environmental disasters have wiped out hundreds of surf spots. Save a few examples, efforts to build artificial reefs have failed. But sometimes man unintentionally lends a helping hand.
South Carlsbad’s Ponto Jetty realized its potential courtesy of two jetties built by the Army Corps of Engineers. It marks the beginning of the south-swell express – a stretch that ends in Los Angeles where the coastline bends favorably to receive waves from the Southern Hemisphere. Accordingly, Ponto is at its best during the dog days of summer — but the wave isn’t always predictable because the sandbars frequently shift around depending on tidal patterns and outflow from the Batiquitos Lagoon. Not for beginners, the main peak is primarily a left that freight trains on the takeoff, leaving the inexperienced liable to be caught in its tracks.
Level: Advanced Best Swell: Southwest Best Season: Summer Parking: There is a paid lot adjacent to the beach; otherwise, park along the Pacific Coast Highway.