South Carlsbad Campground

Following the trend of previous gorgeous SoCal beaches, South Carlsbad State Beach is known particularly well for its surf fishing. The beach generally attracts a large angling crowd, who can be seen off of the Ponto Jetty and other locations casting their lines into the ocean, searching for all types of our aquatic friends, such as rays, sharks, and sea bass.

Some visitors enjoy heading over to the Carlsbad lagoon for some sweet kayaking and boating options. This is definitely nice if you want to escape the beach for a bit, and we don’t necessarily recommend kayaking out on the open ocean…Either way, you can find rentals for any boats that fit your fancy here.

The surf around Carlsbad is always consistent and cause for a great day, so throw on that wetsuit, snag your board, and head out to the water. South Carlsbad is also known as a very local beach, so if that’s any indication of it’s quality then you should understand why everyone loves it so much. When the swell is right, surfing here can get pretty epic, but you can just check out the surf report and see for yourself. With an exposed beach break and reliable surf, the most optimal time for surfing South Carlsbad is during the summer. The ideal swell direction generally comes from the west and southwest, and the beach break offers both left and right hand waves. Try and stay to the left side of the beach, however, as the right is mostly designated for swimmers. And, as always, watch the rips as they are known to be hazardous to surfers around here.

What’s the perfect next step after laying on the beach for hours on end in the glorious sun? Taking that perfect refreshing dip in the SoCal Pacific Ocean. With lifeguards consistently stationed during the summer seasons, swimming is a great way to enjoy a day lounging on the beautiful sands of South Carlsbad State Beach. Waders beware, however, as the water gets deep quickly and the waves can be a bit rough sometimes. Make sure you are aware of all of the ocean safety tips declared by the State Parks. Lastly, try and stick to the right side of the beach for swimming, as they try and separate them out (left for surfers, right for swimmers).