Surfing on the Jersey Shore Rivals Carolina and Florida Beaches

In most people's minds, the Shore is divided up into the northern beaches, from Sandy Hook to Deal, the middle beaches, from Asbury Park to Manasquan, the beaches above Long Beach Island, from Point Pleasant to Seaside Park, and the southern Beaches, from LBI to Brigantine, Atlantic City and Ocean City.

In the summer, the Jersey Shore waves can be pretty tame unless there is a storm brewing, so you can start learning on baby waves and then move onto the big stuff in the fall. If you head down to any one of the best beaches for great action, you will usually spot some dudes checking out the waves. This is a (mostly) friendly bunch and they'll be happy to let you know what level the waves are.

Despite its reputation as a toxic state, the water quality of Jersey beaches is very good. If you get to the beach early, you'll spot the DEP helicopter dipping a bucket in the water for testing. For an update on the water quality, you can go to the DEP site.

In the summer months, the water temperature is perfect, as evidenced by the number of surfers you see on the beach in the early morning. The reason for this is that

1) Some towns restrict them to the times before and after the beaches open,

2) A lot of guys and gals don't want to buy daily or season beach passes just for an hour or two of hitting the waves, so they go before the badge checkers are on duty and

3) Wind conditions are better in the early morning than during the day, stirring up the surf.

But one of the best times of the year on the Jersey shore is in the fall. The summer crowds are gone, the beaches are free, and fall winds, including hurricanes, stir up the ocean for an exciting day. Even though the air temperatures may be cool, the water temperatures stay in the low seventies in the first half of September, about the same temperatures as July and August. The second half of the month sees the temperatures drop to mid sixties, and October, November and December sees temps in the fifties. But winter does not stop avid Jersey Shore diehards, even if the water is too cold. Most of them just suit up in a warm fullsuit including booties, gloves and a hood. Winter storms bring in good waves, and, of course, there are no beach bathers, and no beach fees.

Most boarders will continue to wear their fullsuits until the water temperatures get back up to the seventies. Then they have to once again decide whether to surf in the early morning or buy a beach pass.

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