New Jersey

Manasquan Inlet is the northern equivalent to Sebastian Inlet. With a similar jetty setup, waves bounce off the rocks and their power is corralled into a steep right wedge. But where Sebastian tends to lack distance, Manasquan can produce lengthy rides. One of the best-known breaks on the East Coast, the Inlet can take almost anything the Atlantic can dish out. With a SE swell, it can handle up to 20-foot faces with two fast, bowl-shaped peaks and the occasional quality left. It's often the only show in town; any ripple refracts off the jetty to create a workable wave. With a rip running next to the jetty, the Inlet is an easy paddle, even on bigger days. Therefore all types of surfers can easily stumble onto the peak.

Rich in New Jersey surfing history, Long Beach Island is an 18-mile stretch of sand that can supply some of the best and most diverse surf in the state. From the north end to the south end and everything in between, LBI holds something for every level of surfer. With one of the widest swell windows in the state, if there is swell in the water, there will be waves. That being said, the surf quality for most of the island has been downgraded since most of the jetties and groins have been covered by large beach replenishment projects. That has left only a handfull of consistent spots that are often crowded on any decent day - even in the winter. LBI can do well on almost any type of swell the Atlantic can throw at it. But if you luck into a shorter-to-mid period combo swell with NW winds, you wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

One of the towns where surfing first thrived on the East Coast, Ocean City is still one of the most active and visible surfing communities. The Ocean City Surfing Association (OCSA) got its start in the early ’60s and continues to thrive. During a decent swell, the area from 1st Street through 10th Street offers some of the best-quality surf in South Jersey. It’s not uncommon to find perfect barrels racing down the beach for a block or more off any one of the rock jetties in this part of town. Farther to the south, both the 14th Street Pier and the 59th Street Pier offer fun rights and lefts, depending on the swell. Ocean City’s downside is the limited surfing areas during the summer, which leads to overcrowding. Beach tags are required.

Monmouth is one of several reliable fall/winter beachbreaks in New Jersey. Hurricanes, nor'easters and just solid low pressure systems treat Monmouth's array of jetties quite well, though things can get messy and closed out when swells start maxing.

Manasquan gets all the attention, but this entire stretch is capable of ultra-hollow barrels. On a good southeast swell, there is plenty of room to spread out.Across from Eastern Lines Surf Shop, 16th Ave. is the surfer's beach in Belmar. It breaks well on all swells and is a good spot to catch if it's not summer. If it is, prepare for a crowd. There are a million people in Belmar in the summer, and the water is no different. There is plenty of parking, which makes it that much easier to crowd the lineup.To the north is 8th Avenue Jetty, which can produce a heavy barrel with even heavier hassles.At the end of Belmar is the Belmar Pier, which, although fickle, can produce a good session here or there. It takes a northeast swell nicely. There are a number of other jetties in Belmar, so there are plenty of chances for you to score. Looking for local surf coaching, lessons or camps? Surfline recommends Summertime Surf, located at 2nd Ave. Check 'em out here.

Although the pier is much smaller than it was before Hurricane Sandy, Casino Pier offers some of the longest tube rides in New Jersey. Crowds can be heavy, and there is a solid crew of locals who run the show. Several established names have retained their position in the pecking order for the better part of two decades.On the south side, there's an occasional right bowl that breaks in the middle of the beach. The pier has hosted world-tour events in the past, including the infamous New Jersey Pro of 1988, in which the prize money mysteriously vanished by the time the contest ended.Just north of the famous Casino Pier, Hiering Avenue offers fun lefts and rights. Wide open to most any swell, it breaks with relative consistency.