New Jersey
Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on E swell at 6s with moderate WSW wind around 9mph.
Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on E swell at 6s with moderate WSW wind around 9mph.
Best window·Monday 7AM–10AM·2-3ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Bay Head, New Jersey. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair - Good. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3ft with 9mph from the WSW. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on S swell at 5s with moderate WNW wind around 11mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, 11mph from the NNW, poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Morning kicks off with 2-3+ft on NE swell at 4s.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3+ft, 10s period, rated Good. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on E swell at 9s with 8mph N winds. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Bay Head from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Bay Head is one of New Jersey's best-known surf breaks, famous for its groyne field that shapes sandbars into fast, hollow right-hand barrels. The rock groins focus swell energy and create defined peaks that produce some of the most consistent quality waves on the Jersey Shore, especially during fall nor'easters and hurricane swells. A strong local crew keeps the lineup competitive, but the wave quality here draws surfers from across the tri-state area.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Bay Head is 2-3ft with a 5.9s swell period. Wind is WSW at 9mph. Conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Bay Head is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.5ft E wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.7ft SE secondary swell at 9s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Bay Head is Monday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 2ft waves, a 10.4s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Bay Head works best with a E swell and W winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Bay Head. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Bay Head is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Bay Head is one of New Jersey's best-known surf breaks, famous for its groyne field that shapes sandbars into fast, hollow right-hand barrels. The rock groins focus swell energy and create defined peaks that produce some of the most consistent quality waves on the Jersey Shore, especially during fall nor'easters and hurricane swells. A strong local crew keeps the lineup competitive, but the wave quality here draws surfers from across the tri-state area.
The prime season at Bay Head is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Bay Head include groyne rocks, strong currents, localism, crowded lineups, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Bay Head forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
