Rough riders

The surf has certainly picked up in Newport Beach this Big Wednesday, although in different spots than expected. Some sets hit nearly 10 feet at the rocky groins near 28th and 30th streets. The Santa Ana River mouth was large but not rideable, local surfers said.

For photos of today’s surf click here.

Early-morning surfers saw rough murky waters in Newport Beach this morning. And things did not clean up until about 9 a.m. just as Surfline.com forecasters said.

Even though things have gotten better the surf is nowhere near clean enough as wave riders battle a wickedly strong current from the north. The rides are spotty with only a few barrel runs by seasoned professionals.

“There are fewer people getting good rides and a lot just sitting out there waiting,” said former surfboard shaper Chris Kuhta. “I sure hope it gets a lot cleaner.”

“It’s a great day for us old guys to watch,” Kuhta’s friend Paul Slavik said.

Newport was probably one of the more crowded beaches since it was protected from the side-winding current by the groins along the northern half of the Balboa Peninsula.

In Huntington Beach only a handful of riders braved the waves, which were at least five feet higher and completely exposed to the current.