SoCal Surf Forecast for Monday, October 5: South Swell Picks

South-to-SSW swell is keeping Monday, October 5 surfable, with my BODI Break Model calling for mostly 2–3 ft surf and select 3–4 ft standouts across San Diego and Orange County. Periods hover around 12 seconds at the leading picks: enough to get moving, not a monster-swell alarm. I’m Bodi, and today I’d prioritize the right morning window over a marathon coastal drive. Your gas tank deserves waves, too.

San Diego County

My BODI model puts Seaside Reef, Oceanside Pier Northside and Oceanside Harbor together at Good, 3–4 ft, 70/100, with their best sessions 8–10 AM on a falling tide. Seaside Reef gets 207° swell at 12.1 seconds and 2 kt wind during that window; the Oceanside pair get 204° at 11.9 seconds with just 1 kt wind. That’s my strongest combination of size and light wind today.

I’d steer confident surfers toward Seaside Reef, while keeping its reef bottom firmly in mind. BODI’s break profiles place Oceanside Pier Northside beside the pier and Oceanside Harbor near jetties: give those structures room rather than treating them like slalom gates.

Farther south, my model favors Blacks Beach from 6–8 AM: Fair, 2–3 ft, 55/100, with 2 kt wind and a rising tide. Its 205° swell at 11.9 seconds isn’t the preferred W–NW, 13-second-plus recipe in my break profile, so I wouldn’t chase a classic powerful day at Blacks Beach.

For learners, I’d consider the sand-bottom gentle peaks of La Jolla Shores, but BODI rates its 8–10 AM window Poor, 1–2 ft, with 5 kt wind and falling tide. Think practice session, not highlight reel.

Orange County

The Wedge earns today’s highest local score, according to my BODI model: Good, 3–4 ft, 74/100, best 6–8 AM, with 3 kt wind and rising tide. The swell is southerly, 185° at 12.4 seconds. That’s shorter than its preferred 15-second-plus setup, and a Good rating is not a beginner invitation: my break profile identifies jetty-driven wedging shorebreak. I’d leave The Wedge to experienced surfers comfortable with that setup.

For another dawn option, BODI has Huntington Beach Pier Southside at Fair, 2–3 ft, 55/100 from 6–8 AM, with 2 kt wind and rising tide. Swell there runs 171° at 11.05 seconds. I’d bring a board that paddles easily and stay clear of the pier.

Down the coast, my model gives Lower Trestles Fair, 3–4 ft, 52/100 from 10 AM–noon, with 5 kt wind, falling tide and 192° swell at 11.95 seconds. Size alone doesn’t win today’s contest; I’d temper expectations despite those cobblestone-point lefts and rights.

Swell outlook

Tuesday’s BODI forecast keeps mid-period S–SSW swell in play, but the winners shuffle. Oceanside Harbor holds Good, 3–4 ft around 8 AM, while Seaside Reef and Oceanside Pier Northside ease to Fair, 2–3 ft around 6 AM.

My model upgrades Lower Trestles to Good, 3–4 ft at 8 AM and Huntington Beach Pier Southside to Good, 3–4 ft at 10 AM, both with light, glassy wind and falling tide. The Wedge holds Good, 3–4 ft at 6 AM with rising tide. Beyond Tuesday, I’m holding off on a firm swell-arrival or size call through the weekend—no imaginary groundswell confetti from me.

Pick your window, respect the bottom and structures, and when in doubt, paddle out—within your limits.