NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. - Hundreds of spectators lined the beach and gasped, cheered and clapped on Monday as bodysurfers braved 15-foot waves at The Wedge, a Newport Beach break known for its powerful waves.

The thrill of challenging the walls of churning water created by a major storm thousands of miles away lured bodysurfer Robin Mohr from bed before sunrise.

He was panting on the sand after a wave sent him tumbling through the foamy chop. A trickle of blood was on his forehead, where he'd been smacked by a surfboard earlier in the day.

"You're just super-alert to where you're positioned, because the worst-case scenario is you land with your head on the sand," said Mohr, 50, a South African who drove from San Diego to Newport Beach.

Big surf has been pounding south-facing sections of the Southern California coast since Sunday, keeping lifeguards busy and attracting daring surfers and bodysurfers with boards, wetsuits and fins in tow.

A high-surf advisory remained in effect through Tuesday.

The highest surf was expected Monday, fed by a Southern Hemisphere storm. At Santa Monica, six-to-eight foot waves were recorded, with slightly higher surf in neighboring Venice.

The Behr family from Denver brought their sons, 1-year-old Cole and 3-year-old Max, to the beach for what the father David Behr called a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"We've been to Hawaii a few times and whenever you can catch some big waves, just watching it is incredible," he said, between snapping pictures and pointing out extra-big waves to his younger son.

Newport Beach saw 55,000 visitors over last weekend, but the crowds were smaller on Monday. Even so, more lifeguards were on duty Monday than usual because of the high surf, said Newport Beach Chief Lifeguard Rob Williams.

The rough conditions extended north along the coast to San Luis Obispo County. Avalon, Port San Luis, San Simeon and Cayucos could see currents capable of dislodging moored vessels and docks, forecasters said.

"Inexperienced swimmers should definitely stay out of the water," Seal Beach police Sgt. Ron LaVelle said.

Lifeguards pulled 17 people from the water over the weekend off Newport Beach. It was the busiest weekend for lifeguards since March when 134 people were rescued during a weekend of big waves and warm weather.

The conditions caused minor flooding Sunday night along beachfront homes in low-lying Seal Beach. Water washed over the boardwalk, but there was no property damage.