Crowd & Localism
Weekdays Port O'Connor is nearly empty. Weekends bring fishermen, not surfers. Expect the lineup to yourself on most sessions, with a handful of others showing up only on legitimate hurricane swells. No localism to speak of.
Central Texas, Texas, United States
Port O'Connor Jetties
28.418, -96.323
Edited by Tom Jackson
Verified May 2026
Editor-verifiedCross-checked against Surfline
At a glance
- Port O'Connor Jetties is a a-frame over beach, jetty-assisted sandbar lefts and rights.
- Intermediate to advanced ability, working 2-8 ft.
- Peak January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November.
A-frame · BeachIntermediate → Advanced2–8 ftJan – Nov
Reachable only by a 20-plus minute boat ride from the sleepy fishing town of Port O'Connor on the Central Texas coast, these sandbars flanking the Matagorda Peninsula jetties are among the most isolated surf setups in the Gulf. S and SE swells groom the sandbars into workable lefts and rights, with offshore N, NW, or W winds keeping faces clean. The jetties' length lets this spot handle larger swells than most Gulf breaks, and it genuinely comes alive when a hurricane is pushing northeast through the basin toward landfall further east. Best at medium tide, waist-high to double overhead. Intermediate to advanced surfers will find the most from it, and crowds are essentially nonexistent outside of major hurricane events. Bottom: sand. Season: late summer through fall, late winter to mid-spring. Consistency: low to moderate, swell-dependent. Come self-sufficient: water, sunscreen, and a well-anchored boat are non-negotiable out here.
Wave fit
Skill suited
Intermediate → Advanced
BegIntAdv
Best months
Jan – Nov
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F
M
A
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Character
Jetty-assisted sandbar lefts and rights.
Conditions
When it worksHazards
IsolationSunburnsDehydration - don't forget the sunscreen and water. Ensure your boat is anchored securely.
Trip planning
Quick facts
Wetsuit
Boardies to 2mm
What to bring
- Shortboard 6ft to 6ft 4in for overhead-plus hurricane swell
- Fish or funboard for waist-to-chest-high days
- Longboard on small, slow days
Lineup
Mellow lineup
Where it sits
Location
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About this break
What it's actually like
Access & Facilities
A boat is required, full stop. The launch is out of Port O'Connor, and the ride takes over 20 minutes each way. There are no facilities on the peninsula. Bring everything you need: fresh water, food, sun protection, first aid. Anchor your boat securely before crossing the island to the surf side. Water can pick up outflow from the pass after heavy rain, so check conditions post-storm.
Nearby Alternatives
If the Gulf is flat, the Packery Channel jetties near Corpus Christi offer a similar jetty-assisted sandbar setup with easier access. Padre Island can produce beachbreak peaks on the same SE and S swells and is worth checking before committing to the boat ride.
10-day swell, wind and tide
Port O'Connor Jetties surf forecast
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Forecast by Windy.app
Stay nearby
Camps within boat range
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If this isn't your wave
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scattered beach peaks with occasional hollow sections over sunken wreck · A-frame · Beach
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Fish Pass
jetty-flanked sandbar peaks with occasional hollow channel section · A-frame · Beach
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Flagship
soft beach peaks with bowly pier sections, rights and lefts · A-frame · Beach
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Crystal Beach
mellow shifting beachbreak peaks · A-frame · Beach
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Bob Hall Pier
fast hollow pier sandbars with steep drops and pushy walls · A-frame · Beach
Intermediate → Advanced
Matagorda
fast hollow beach and jetty peaks · Right · Beach
Intermediate → Advanced
37th Street
punchy jetty-assisted beach peaks · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Advanced
Packery Channel Jetties
rolling jetty-sheltered beach peaks, lefts and rights · A-frame · Beach
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J.P. Luby Surf Park
punchy hollow beach peaks, lefts and rights · A-frame · Beach
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West Galveston
drifty beach peaks, lefts and rights · A-frame · Beach
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Frequently asked
What you need to know before paddling out at Port O'Connor Jetties
What skill level is Port O'Connor Jetties suited for?
Port O'Connor Jetties is a beach bottom, jetty-assisted sandbar lefts and rights, break suited for intermediate through advanced surfers.
What size does Port O'Connor Jetties work best at?
Working size is 2 to 8 ft. Below 2 ft the swell goes flat. Above 8 ft it tends to close out.
When is the best season to surf Port O'Connor Jetties?
Port O'Connor Jetties fires from January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November. Outside that window the swell window narrows and the lineup goes quiet.
What swell direction does Port O'Connor Jetties need?
Port O'Connor Jetties switches on with swells out of the SE to S (135 to 180 degrees).
What are the main hazards at Port O'Connor Jetties?
Main hazards at Port O'Connor Jetties: Isolation, sunburns, dehydration - don't forget the sunscreen and water. Ensure your boat is anchored securely..
What type of wave is Port O'Connor Jetties?
Port O'Connor Jetties is a a-frame-breaking wave over beach. Jetty-assisted sandbar lefts and rights.
Sources
- Surfline
Port O'Connor Jetties
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