Wed Sep 30 · 4:45–6:00pm (right after the 0600–1600 shift) · 6'3" Sci-Fi 2.0 (Ova if lully)
15s SW groundswell (~215°) crossed with WNW windswell (283° @ 7–8s) peaks up Ponto's bars. ~3ft with 4ft sets (Surfline says 3–4; it's run ~1ft high all week, and today's cam read 2–3ft). Southerly eddy all day — SE/S 10 mph from 6am — easing to SW ~5 mph by 5pm. Low tide dropping (~1.1ft at 5pm, 0.2ft low 6:56pm). No dawn patrol: 0600 shift. Runner-up: Tippers (tiebreak only; Surfline rates it a notch higher at 6pm). Water 74°F.
Ponto low-to-mid window (−1 to +3ft)session (4:45–6:00pm after shift)tide height
Stoke Meter (4:45pm after shift)
South Ponto and Tippers tie: optimal SW angle, 15s, SW ~5 mph after 5pm, low tide in window but outgoing. Ponto takes the closer/less-crowded tiebreak; the WNW windswell underneath keeps 15s from walling its bars. Oceanside Harbor: windswell is WNW not NW, and the low outgoing tide misses its mid-incoming window. Sunset Cliffs: low tide exposes the ledges. Blacks (SW is outside its S window, W energy only 8s) and Windansea (needs mid tide) are out. The 7am–2:30pm break loses to SE/S 10 mph.
Days to Watch
Thu Oct 1 (off): glassy 0 mph dawn, chest max, Surfline 2–3ft+. Sun Oct 4–Tue Oct 6: Ponto LOTUS 4–5ft, possible Hurricane Rachel swell (steep 160–170°, 13–16s) — you're on 1400 swings, so dawn is open. Thu Oct 8: Ponto 5–7ft, SW groundswell 210° 16s.