What is the best time to surf at the Jersey Shore?

Fall (September-November) is the best surf season due to hurricane swells, warm water, and fewer crowds. Winter brings powerful nor'easter swells but requires a 5mm wetsuit. Summer is generally flat with occasional south swells and crowded beaches that limit surf zones.

Where are the best surf spots in New Jersey?

Manasquan Inlet is NJ's most famous spot, known for quality right-hand point breaks. Belmar and Long Branch offer consistent beach breaks good for all levels. Asbury Park has jetty breaks with a great surf scene. Ocean Grove provides mellow waves with less crowds.

Do I need a wetsuit to surf in New Jersey?

It depends on the season. Summer (June-August) requires only board shorts or a spring suit. Fall needs a 3/2mm fullsuit. Winter requires a 5/4mm wetsuit plus boots, gloves, and hood as water drops to 38-50°F. Spring calls for a 4/3mm fullsuit.

Can beginners surf at the Jersey Shore?

Yes, many Jersey Shore towns are beginner-friendly. Wildwood has gentle waves on a wide, free beach. Belmar and Long Branch offer surf lessons and rentals. Avoid localized spots like Manasquan Inlet until you're more experienced. Summer has smaller waves ideal for learning.

Surfing at the Jersey Shore

From beach breaks to jetty points, find the best waves along the Jersey Shore.

7+Surf Spots

FallBest Season

3-8ftWave Range

Summer

⭐⭐

Generally flat with occasional south swells. Crowded beaches limit surf zones.

Fall

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best season. Hurricane swells bring consistent waves. Water still warm. Fewer crowds.

Winter

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cold water (need 5mm wetsuit) but powerful noreaster swells. Uncrowded.

Spring

S-SE swell needed due to geography

FREE beachMellow wavesWide beachLessonsGreat for beginners

View Town Guide

🏆 Famous Break: Manasquan Inlet

The Inlet at Manasquan is New Jerseys most famous surf spot. When northeast swells wrap around the jetty, it creates a right-hand point break that can produce head-high+ waves - rare for the typically mushy East Coast. Its heavily localized, so show respect if youre visiting.

Best conditions: NE swell at 4+ feet, incoming tide, light offshore winds.

Explore Manasquan →

Your First Surf Session

Your first time paddling out can be intimidating. Here's exactly what to expect so you can focus on having fun.

📝 Before You Go

Check conditions
Look for small, clean waves (under 3ft). Avoid windy or stormy days.
Rent the right board
Longboard (8ft+) or soft-top foamie. Don't let ego push you to a shortboard.
Choose the right spot
Wide beach, gentle waves, not crowded. Wildwood is ideal.
Time it right
Early morning for best conditions and fewer people.

🏄 During the Session

Warming up
Paddle around, get used to the board, practice popping up on the sand.
Whitewash waves
Start in knee-deep water, catch broken waves. Don't rush to go out back.
The popup
Paddle hard, feel the wave catch you, hands by chest, spring up, look where you're going.
Wipeouts
You will fall. A lot. Protect your head, relax, surface, find your board.

✅ After the Session

•Rinse your wetsuit with fresh water
•Check yourself for rashes or irritation
•Eat something - you burned way more calories than you realized
•Think about what worked and what didn't
•Plan your next session (muscle memory builds with frequency)

🧠 Mindset Tips

→Lower your expectations - you won't look like Instagram on day one

→Celebrate small wins - standing up for 2 seconds is huge

→Embrace the struggle - everyone you see shredding was terrible once

→Have fun - if you're not enjoying the learning process, it's not worth it

Surf Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules

Surfing has unwritten rules that keep everyone safe and the vibes good. Ignore these and you'll have a miserable time. Learn them and you'll earn respect.

🚫

Don't Drop In

The surfer closest to the peak (where the wave breaks) has priority. If someone is already riding, you can't take off in front of them.

❌ Dropping in is the quickest way to make enemies. It's dangerous (collisions happen) and disrespectful.

✓ Before paddling for a wave, always look both ways. If someone's up and riding, let them have it.

🐍

Don't Snake

Snaking is paddling around someone to get closer to the peak and steal priority. It's the lineup equivalent of cutting in line.

❌ Locals will remember and you'll find yourself suddenly "invisible" when waves come.

✓ Wait your turn. Paddle back to the lineup after each wave and take waves in rotation.

↩️

Paddle Wide, Not Through

When paddling back out, go around the breaking waves, not through the lineup where people are riding.

❌ Getting in a surfer's way mid-ride is frustrating for them and dangerous for you.

✓ Look where waves are breaking and paddle to the side - the extra distance is worth it.

🤝

Respect the Locals

Every break has regulars who surf there daily. They've earned priority through years of dedication.

❌ Acting entitled at a localized spot will get you frozen out - no waves for you.

✓ Be humble, wait your turn, don't paddle for every wave, smile and say hey. Earn your waves.

📊

Know Your Limits

Don't paddle out in conditions beyond your ability. You become a hazard to yourself and others.

❌ Panicking in the lineup, getting in the way, or needing rescue ruins the session for everyone.

✓ Be honest about your skill level. There's no shame in surfing smaller days while you improve.

Bonus Tips

•Hold onto your board - loose boards are dangerous projectiles
•If you mess up, acknowledge it - a quick "sorry, my bad" goes a long way
•Don't paddle out right where everyone is sitting - you'll just get in the way
•Share waves with beginners at mellow breaks - we all started somewhere

Reading Surf Conditions

Knowing how to read a surf forecast is the difference between scoring waves and wasting a trip. Here's what those numbers and arrows actually mean.

📏

Wave Height

Measured from the back of the wave or face height. "3-4 ft" means chest to head high for most people.

🌊 NJ Context: NJ waves are often reported optimistically. Expect waves to look smaller than forecast numbers suggest.

✓ Sweet Spot: 2-4 ft face height is ideal for most surfers. Overhead+ is for experienced only.

⏱️

Swell Period

Seconds between waves. Longer period = more power. A 12-second period hits way harder than 6-second.

🌊 NJ Context: NJ needs 8+ second period for quality waves. Under 6 seconds means weak, mushy conditions.

✓ Sweet Spot: 10-14 seconds is the sweet spot. 15+ from hurricanes can be too much for most spots.

🧭

Swell Direction

Where the swell originates. Different spots work best with different directions.

🌊 NJ Context: E to NE swells are most consistent for NJ. South swells need to be big to wrap in. North swells miss most spots.

✓ Sweet Spot: ENE swell direction is ideal for most NJ beach breaks.

💨

Wind Direction

Offshore (from land) cleans up waves. Onshore (from ocean) makes them choppy and crumbly.

🌊 NJ Context: West winds are offshore for NJ - the holy grail. East wind is death for wave quality.

✓ Sweet Spot: Light offshore (W-NW) or no wind. Anything under 10mph is manageable.

🌊

Tide

Water level affects how waves break. Some spots work on low, others on high.

🌊 NJ Context: Most NJ beach breaks work on incoming mid-tide. Low tide often creates closeouts.

✓ Sweet Spot: Check your spot's preferences, but mid-tide incoming is a safe bet.

📱 Forecast Resources

Surfline

surfline.com

Most accurate for NJ, but premium features cost $

Magic Seaweed

magicseaweed.com

Free and solid, tends to over-forecast

Swellinfo

swellinfo.com

Good regional overview, less detailed

Surfer's Progression Guide

Surfing has a long learning curve, but that's part of the magic. Here's a realistic roadmap from your first wave to becoming a solid intermediate.

🌱

Total Beginner

Sessions 1-5

Goals

✓Learn to pop up consistently on whitewash
✓Practice paddling technique
✓Get comfortable in the water
✓Understand basic ocean safety

Where to Surf

Whitewash only. Wildwood, Belmar for small, gentle waves. Avoid crowded spots.

Common Struggles

Timing the popup, getting exhausted, feeling disoriented in waves

💡 Pro Tip: Take a lesson. Seriously. It'll save you months of frustration.

🌿

Advanced Beginner

Sessions 5-20

Goals

✓Catch unbroken (green) waves
✓Angle the board on takeoff
✓Ride along the wave face
✓Learn to read the lineup

Where to Surf

Mellow beach breaks on small days. Ocean Grove, Asbury (uncrowded peaks). Avoid localized spots.

Common Struggles

Timing green waves, getting caught inside, dealing with crowds

💡 Pro Tip: Surf as often as possible. Frequency beats duration - 3 short sessions beat 1 long one.

🌲

Intermediate

Sessions 20-100+

Goals

✓Generate speed on the wave
✓Do basic turns (cutbacks, bottom turns)
✓Surf in varied conditions
✓Understand different boards for different waves

Where to Surf

Any beach break appropriate for conditions. Start venturing to better spots. Respect the lineup.

Common Struggles

Generating speed, timing turns, handling bigger waves

💡 Pro Tip: Film yourself. You don't look like you think you do. Video feedback accelerates progress.

🚀 Progress Accelerators

→Surf with better surfers - you'll learn by watching and they'll push your positioning
→Cross-train with skateboarding or snowboarding for balance and flow
→Do surf-specific fitness (paddling, pop-ups, flexibility)
→Study video of good surfers at your local breaks
→Keep a surf journal - note conditions, what worked, what didn't

New Jersey Surf Culture

New Jersey has a rich surf history that most people don't know about. The Garden State has been producing waves and surfers since the 1960s.

1960s - The Beginning

Surfing arrived in NJ when kids saw surf movies and ordered boards from California. Long Branch and Belmar had some of the first organized surf scenes on the East Coast.

1970s-80s - The Golden Age

The Inlet at Manasquan became legendary. East Coast surfers proved they could charge serious waves. Brands like O'Neill established East Coast presence. Surfing boomed.

1990s-2000s - Going Pro

NJ surfers like Dean Randazzo started competing nationally. The ESA (Eastern Surfing Association) held major events at NJ beaches. Surf culture became mainstream.

Today

With climate change bringing more frequent storms, NJ gets more surf than ever. The scene is crowded but vibrant, with surf shops, shapers, and a dedicated community.

🏄 Local Surf Institutions

Inkwell

Manasquan

Custom boards by local shapers

Surf Taco

Multiple

The post-surf meal institution

Eastern Lines

Belmar

Longstanding surf shop, lessons

Surfing Tips for NJ

📱

Check Conditions

Use Surfline, Magic Seaweed, or Swellinfo for forecasts. Wave heights, wind direction, and tide matter.

🤙

Respect Locals

Many breaks have regulars. Wait your turn, dont drop in, and be friendly. Youll get more waves.

📋

Know the Rules

Many beaches restrict surfing to designated areas or certain hours during summer. Check signs.

🏄

Bring the Right Board

NJ beach breaks work well with shortboards and fish. Longboards for smaller days.

Wetsuit Guide

Summer

Jun-Aug

Board shorts or spring suit

Water: 65-75°F

Fall

Sep-Nov

3/2mm fullsuit

Water: 55-68°F

Winter

Dec-Mar

5/4mm + boots, gloves, hood

Water: 38-50°F

Spring

Apr-May

4/3mm fullsuit

Water: 48-60°F

Surf Reports & Conditions

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Explore All Shore Towns

Find surf shops, lessons, and more at each destination.

View All Towns

Surfing at the Jersey Shore

Surf Season Guide

Summer

Fall

Winter

Spring

Best Surf Spots

Long Branch

Belmar

Manasquan

Ocean Grove

Asbury Park

Seaside Heights

Wildwood

🏆 Famous Break: Manasquan Inlet

Your First Surf Session

📝 Before You Go

🏄 During the Session

✅ After the Session

🧠 Mindset Tips

Surf Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules

Don't Drop In

Don't Snake

Paddle Wide, Not Through

Respect the Locals

Know Your Limits

Bonus Tips

Reading Surf Conditions

Wave Height

Swell Period

Swell Direction

Wind Direction

Tide

📱 Forecast Resources

Surfer's Progression Guide

Total Beginner

Goals

Where to Surf

Common Struggles

Advanced Beginner

Goals

Where to Surf

Common Struggles

Intermediate

Goals

Where to Surf

Common Struggles

🚀 Progress Accelerators

New Jersey Surf Culture

1960s - The Beginning

1970s-80s - The Golden Age

1990s-2000s - Going Pro

Today

🏄 Local Surf Institutions

Surfing Tips for NJ

Check Conditions

Respect Locals

Know the Rules

Bring the Right Board

Wetsuit Guide

Summer

Fall

Winter

Spring

Surf Reports & Conditions

Explore All Shore Towns