I took this photo from the door of the RV at San Elijo campground Feb 2018:
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Still nice in Jan/Feb, water gets colder, typically waves get bigger. Can get some days of rain which shuts things down for a couple days after...but we are due for a winter of no rain.

Inland...

You decided were you are going? San Diego is typically really good in Nov/Dec for mtb and surf.

I put a bread bag over my foot to slide into my full suit.

You wont need a 3/2 in San Diego Aug/Sep, unless you run crazy cold. I was out last Th in a spring suite for an hour and would have been fine in trunks, water temp 68, air temp 77. It might be nice...

What months are you thinking? Good waves in colder water will be plenty crowded, at least anyplace in CA. But like others said avoid those places until you get better.

For San Diego I'm...

La Jolla Shores for lessons. If you can score a camping spot in one of the San Diego CA State campgrounds you are right on the beach, but they are busy. There are inland campgrounds that are...