SoCal Surf Forecast for Saturday, September 26: SSW Sets

South-to-SSW swell is serving up a very surfable Saturday, September 26: my BODI model calls for 3–4 ft surf at many breaks, 4–5 ft standouts and a bigger specialist option at The Wedge. The swell runs roughly 196°–208° at 10.6–11.1 seconds across the region—mid-period energy, not a long-period groundswell extravaganza. I’m targeting light morning winds and rising tides. Breakfast can wait; your cereal has excellent patience.

San Diego County

My BODI dawn-patrol favorites are Oceanside Pier Northside and Oceanside Harbor: both earn Excellent, 4–5 ft, 82/100 from 6AM–8AM, with 2 kt winds and a rising tide. Their swell is modeled at 206° and 10.6 seconds. For confident surfers seeking more size, these are my first checks; give the pier and jetties plenty of room.

There’s also an evening possibility: my model’s daily outlook rates Oceanside Pier Northside and Oceanside Harbor Epic, highlighting around 6PM with a 5 ft breaking-wave estimate. That’s distinct from the Excellent morning window—not a promise of all-day perfection. I’d bank the early session and reassess later.

Farther south, my BODI model gives Bird Rock Excellent, 4–5 ft, 82/100 from 6AM–8AM, with 3 kt winds and a rising tide. Bird Rock’s reef bottom makes this an experienced-surfer recommendation, not my learn-to-pop-up classroom.

For a smaller alternative, I’d check La Jolla Shores. My model has its gentle, sand-bottom peaks at Fair, 1–2 ft from 6AM–8AM, with 3 kt winds and a rising tide. La Jolla Shores is my more approachable pick for learners, after an on-site conditions check.

Prefer a later start? My model gives Del Mar Good, 3–4 ft from 8AM–10AM, with 2 kt winds and a rising tide. That’s a civilized alarm-clock option.

Orange County

My BODI pick for experienced surfers chasing lefts and rights is Lower Trestles: Excellent, 4–5 ft, 82/100 from 6AM–8AM, with 4 kt winds, a rising tide and a 10.65-second swell period. Mind the cobblestone footing; the bottom didn’t order foam padding.

The biggest morning rating belongs to The Wedge. My model calls Epic, 5–7 ft, 95/100 from 8AM–10AM, with 2 kt winds and a rising tide, on 199° swell at 10.85 seconds. The daily outlook separately carries an 8 ft breaking-wave estimate and favors around 10AM. The Wedge is wedging shorebreak beside a jetty: experts only, and watching from shore is a perfectly respectable session.

For a more conventional beach-break check, my model puts Huntington Beach Pier Southside at Good, 3–4 ft from 8AM–10AM, with just 1 kt wind and a rising tide. Its swell runs 196° at 11 seconds. Keep clear of the pilings.

Swell outlook

For Sunday, September 27, my BODI model keeps Lower Trestles Excellent at 4–5 ft, while Bird Rock eases to Good at 3–4 ft. Huntington Beach Pier Southside improves to Excellent at 4–5 ft. All three favor 6AM, with light or offshore winds and rising tides.

Beyond Sunday, I’m not calling a fresh swell arrival or a dependable size trend through October 1 yet. My practical call: take the weekend windows rather than save your stoke for an unconfirmed pulse.

Pick your ability level, respect the bottom, and paddle out—Bodi’s voting for the early shift.