New Jersey
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Ship Bottom for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ship Bottom, New Jersey. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1ft waves on ESE swell at 9s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 20mph from the S and dropping conditions to very poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with 14mph out of the SSW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 29mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on SE swell at 10s and 13mph from the SW. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with gentle WSW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light W winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Ship Bottom is a laid-back beach break on Long Beach Island offering consistent peaks suited for all skill levels. The east-facing Atlantic shoreline picks up a wide range of swells, with fall nor'easters and hurricane remnants delivering the most powerful conditions. Westerly offshore winds keep the faces clean, and the sandy bottom provides forgiving rides along this classic Jersey Shore barrier island.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ship Bottom is 1ft with a 9.05s swell period. Wind is S at 13mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Ship Bottom is 1ft, produced by a 1.8ft ESE primary swell at 9s, a 0.9ft S wind swell swell at 5s. 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 Ship Bottom is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.45s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ship Bottom 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 Ship Bottom. 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.
Ship Bottom is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Ship Bottom is a laid-back beach break on Long Beach Island offering consistent peaks suited for all skill levels. The east-facing Atlantic shoreline picks up a wide range of swells, with fall nor'easters and hurricane remnants delivering the most powerful conditions. Westerly offshore winds keep the faces clean, and the sandy bottom provides forgiving rides along this classic Jersey Shore barrier island.
The prime season at Ship Bottom 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 Ship Bottom include rip currents, crowds in summer, strong nor'easter currents, jetty near water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ship Bottom 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
