Surfing Rincon: The Complete Guide

Rincon is a point break located in Ventura County, USA (CA), offering a right-hander along North America's diverse surf scene. Rincon is the Queen of the Coast—a world-class right-hand point break on the Ventura-Santa Barbara county line that produces some of California's longest, most perfect waves. Rated as advanced difficulty with very crowded conditions, this point break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is WNW (290°), with workable conditions from W to NW (260°–320°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Rincon needs a minimum of 1m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 3m / 10ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 12 seconds, with 16 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the N (0°). The full offshore range spans NW to NE (315°–45°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at low to mid tide. Optimal tide range is 0.3m–1.2m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Rincon runs November, December, January, February (Nov–Feb). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens October, March (Oct–Mar). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Peak winter. Needs big NW swell to wrap into the cove.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 15°C / 59°F. Bring a 3/2mm wetsuit — 4/3mm in winter months.

Getting There

The nearest airport is SBA, roughly 30 minutes by car.

Access: Park at Bates Beach. Short walk to point.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

👥 Crowded — Gets very crowded
🪨 Rocks — Rocky entry/exit or in lineup
👊 Localism — Heavy local enforcement

Extremely localized. Cobblestone bottom. Very crowded when good.

Safety Tips:

Respect the lineup, wait your turn, and be friendly. A little humility goes a long way
Surf early mornings or off-peak days to avoid the worst of the crowds

Skill Level: This spot is rated advanced (6/10). Crowd Level: Typically very crowded (9/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Rincon? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Rincon is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*