Ventura County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at The Ranch - Cojo Reef, Ventura County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Wed, Jun 24: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 16s and barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 9mph by PM.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 16s with light winds out of the NNW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 17mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to fair.
Fri, Jun 26: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with 11mph NNW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 19mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Midday is the call — 3-4ft waves with 18mph NW winds and fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Sun, Jun 28: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 16s and 9mph NNW winds. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 20mph and poor - fair by then.
Cojo Reef is a powerful reef break located on the remote Ventura County coast that peels off consistent, well-defined waves over a rocky reef bottom. The spot's northern exposure captures winter swells perfectly, with the reef producing hollow tubes and punchy walls that demand solid paddling skills and wave knowledge. This is a relatively uncrowded gem for experienced surfers willing to venture to the less-traveled stretches of the Central Coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at The Ranch - Cojo Reef is 2-3+ft with a 16.7s swell period. Wind is WNW at 17mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at The Ranch - Cojo Reef is 2-3+ft, produced by a 2.2ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 0.5ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.3ft WNW tertiary swell at 12s, a 2.4ft WNW wind swell swell at 4s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf The Ranch - Cojo Reef is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
The Ranch - Cojo Reef works best with a NW swell and NNW winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at The Ranch - Cojo Reef. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
The Ranch - Cojo Reef is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Cojo Reef is a powerful reef break located on the remote Ventura County coast that peels off consistent, well-defined waves over a rocky reef bottom. The spot's northern exposure captures winter swells perfectly, with the reef producing hollow tubes and punchy walls that demand solid paddling skills and wave knowledge. This is a relatively uncrowded gem for experienced surfers willing to venture to the less-traveled stretches of the Central Coast.
The prime season at The Ranch - Cojo Reef is winter, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at The Ranch - Cojo Reef include strong currents, shallow reef, rocks, localism, remote location. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our The Ranch - Cojo Reef forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
