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Australian surfer Sally Fitzgibbons has lost her No.1 ranking to J-Bay Open winner, Carissa Moore. Gabriel Medina won the men's competition.

The J-Bay Open in South Africa concluded with Hawaiian Carissa Moore taking over Australian Sally Fitzgibbons as the new world No.1, while Brazilian Gabriel Medina won the men's competition.

The sixth stop on the 2019 World Surf League tour saw 1.2-1.8 metre waves at the iconic Jeffreys Bay, where Moore and Medina both recorded their maiden J-Bay Open wins.

Moore, a three-time WSL Champion, defeated Lakey Peterson in the final after overcoming Caroline Marks in the semi-final.

Moore and Peterson went blow-for-blow in the final until the former found a set wave, drawing out her signature carves, and the judges awarded her an 8.50 to jump into the lead.

Peterson then scored a 7.27, before Moore improved her lead with a wave under priority to take what was her first win of 2019.

"I haven't been in the yellow jersey in a few years, so it's extra special," said Moore, who overtook Fitzgibbons in the world title race.

"I know there's a lot of work to be done for the rest of the year, but I'm just so excited," she added.

It was also Medina's first win of 2019 as the 25-year-old Brazilian defeated compatriot Italo Ferreira in the final, having deposed of American Kolohe Andino in the semi-finals and Australia's Owen Wright in the quarter-finals.

The all-Brazilian final was epic, with Ferreira opening with a 9.10 before Medina replied with a near-perfect 9.73. It took a while for both surfers to find a winning backup score.

With Medina only requiring something in the seven-point range for victory, he delighted the crowd with a 9.77, then a 19.50 two-wave total leaving his countryman with too much to do.

"It feels so good to get one over Italo (Ferreira)," Medina said.

"He surfs so well (and) all the Brazilians are doing so well, and to share a final with Italo means so much."