New Jersey
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on E swell at 10s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 22mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on ESE swell at 8s with light WSW winds. The SSE wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and poor by then.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSE swell at 6s and light winds out of the SW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 8s with 10mph SW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 18mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 20: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 3-4ft with 13mph SSW winds. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
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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 2-3ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is SSW at 9mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Ship Bottom is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.9ft E primary swell at 10s, a 1.7ft SSE 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 Ship Bottom is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 5.85s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
