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Jupiter Inlet - Break Data
Surf spot travel photo of Jupiter Inlet
Description
Two sandbars, one inside, one way out back, parallel each other between Jupiter Inlet and the Juno Beach Pier. When a good swell is running, many sections of these sandbars create good long walls. Watch out for rocks though. In most places, impromptu parking is permitted along either side of A1A and stairs rise over the dunes to the beach. When conditions are right, a fun wave will break beyond the dunes at any given point. Surfers have given a few of these accesses names, but they're all about the same. Your best options are either the Jupiter Inlet or Juno Pier.

The focus of some controversy since they lengthened the south jetty, the Jupiter Inlet's south side is still one of the best big waves around. It's also one of the few good rights in South Florida -- it's just a little hard to find. Take Indiantown Road until it runs into A1A, then turn north. The park is on the far north end of the island, but you must veer right off A1A at the Circle K -- the turn-off is marked -- and follow a two-lane road around to the northeast. The surf is directly in front of the restroom facilities.

While a decent left breaks off the main outside peak, the right is what makes the Inlet famous. Before the south jetty was extended in 1998-'99, there was also a rippable left inside in the cove and adjacent to the jetty. That wave is essentially gone now, but the outside right is still strong. At smaller sizes, it may seem like a weak A-frame, but when a big east-northeast swell is running, the right comes to life and wraps in toward the jetty, bending like a pointbreak with hollow sections.

The main peak is way outside between the jetty and the lifeguard tower. It's best to paddle out along the jetty, but mind the currents. A strong outgoing tide might be a one-way ticket to the Bahamas, and staying on the peak is like paddling upriver. It's advisable to catch a wave fast, walk back up the beach and paddle out by the Inlet again. Of course the crowd sometimes makes that difficult, but less so during school and business hours. The peak shifts in and out and up and down, so the crowd tends to spread out on larger swells. A few aggressive locals frequent the place, and violent incidents have occurred, so be careful.
-- Terry Gibson 		Best Tide:
low and incoming
Best Swell Direction:
NNE groundswell
Best Size:
head-high plus
Best Wind:
WNW
Perfect-O-Meter:
8 (1=Lake Erie; 10=Jeffreys Bay)
Bottom:
sand
Ability Level:
good to expert when heavy
Bring Your:
shortboard -- please
Best Season:
August through June
Access:
park and paddle
Crowd Factor:
heavy, local vibe exists
Local Vibe:
9
Bicep Burn:
1 (1=1ft Waikiki; 10=15ft Ocean Beach)
Poo Patrol:
8 (1=clean; 10=turds in the lineup)
Shark Danger:
Watch strong currents. (1=none; 10=bring an iron cage)
Places To Eat
Check out the Jupiter Ale House (561-746-6720), located on Center Street, for libations and good times. Dune Dog Drive-In (561-744-6667), at the end of Center Street on Alternate A1A, caters to surfers. And Trapper's Cabin (561-743-9700), which is located on A1A in the vicinity of Carlin Park, is great for breakfast.
Places To Stay
The pampered traveler will enjoy the Jupiter Beach Resort (561-746-2511), located one half-mile south of the Jupiter Inlet. The more frugal or nature-minded will opt for camping at the Jonathon Dickenson State Park located on the Loxahatchee River: call (561-546-2771) for reservations. There is an entrance fee of $3.25 per carload of up to eight people, and camps sites cost about $15 and vary seasonally. Cabins and canoes are available for rent. The park is a recreational option during flat spells.

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Things To Do
The fishing in the Jupiter Inlet is even better than the surf. The beautiful Loxahatchee River pours into the ocean through the Inlet, and sharks of every size and variety come here to dine on sardines, snook and sometimes surfers. Try the web for fishing services.
Surf Shops
There's Juno Surf Shop (561-626-3569) in town, Ocean Magic Surf and Sport (561-744-8925), Locals Surf Shop (561-624-6006), and Lazy Daze (561-625-9283) are all nearby. Jupiter surfers are a tight and active group, and Jupiterisland.com is an excellent source of information about area happenings. You can also get a membership application for the notorious Jupiter Noseriders, who meet at the Crab Pot Restaurant (561-844-2722) on the first Monday of every month.

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