Heavy surf at Wedge

The surf wasn’t epic, but it drew crowds.

Media, spectators and adventurous body boarders seeking a thrashing came out in force to witness some exciting swells that hit Newport’s beaches Tuesday.

Although the swell wasn’t the first biggie of the year, waves between 4 and 7 feet were reported in Newport Beach on Tuesday, Surfline Forecaster Charlie Fox said.

“The swell was pretty continuous most of the day,” Fox said, adding that the waves were generated by a storm system 4,500 miles away from Newport Beach, off the coast of South America.

The Wedge, at the eastern end of the Balboa Peninsula, experienced waves from 6 to 10 feet, with occasional 12-foot swells ? the largest reported surf in the county Tuesday, Fox said.

“The surf wasn’t super, super big, but it was good and exciting,” Newport Beach Lifeguard Battalion Chief Jim Turner said.

Walking to the Wedge on Tuesday afternoon, the ominous crashing of powerful waves could be heard blocks away.

Old or young, in bathing suits or three-piece suits, the sand was packed with onlookers. TV news vans were parked on the sand, and lifeguards paced back and forth on the beach, ready for a rescue if needed.

Those who weren’t there to watch were in the water. Arms and legs flailed through the crashing water as set after set rolled in, barely giving those in the water a chance to recover before another heavy wave was upon them.

Newport Beach lifeguards reported about 50 rescues ? not an unusually high number for a summer day.

The strong south swell did create powerful rip currents, which resulted in lifeguards making rescues of not just individuals, but several people at a time, Turner said.

“The rip currents were pulling out groups of people,” Turner said.

No serious injuries were reported.

Although media hyped Tuesday’s swell as the first big one of the season, it’s actually one of many sizable swells, Fox said.

“This has been a really active late spring,” Fox said. “We’ve had a few swells this size already.”

As for this one, boarders and spectators alike can expect the waves to stick around this week and slowly taper off.

“It’s going to continue strong tomorrow but just kind loosing steam as the week goes on,” Fox said.dpt.21-bigsurf-1-CPhotoInfoS21S647C20060621j16mi8ncCHRISTOPHER WAGNER / DAILY PILOT(LA)A body surfer drops in on a wave Tuesday at the Wedge. Waves in Newport Beach were estimated to be from 6 to 12 feet.