New Jersey
The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3+ft waves, moderate SW wind around 9mph, poor - fair conditions.
The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3+ft waves, moderate SW wind around 9mph, poor - fair conditions.
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·3-4ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on E swell at 6s with moderate SW wind around 9mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 8s and 14mph out of the W. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and poor early on. Wind drops off and the surface cleans up — poor by afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Morning kicks off with 2-3ft on NE swell at 4s.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Good. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on ENE swell at 8s with 10mph from the NW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Ship Bottom turns Good.
Check Ship Bottom from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 2-3+ft with a 5.9s swell period. Wind is SW at 9mph. Conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Ship Bottom is 2-3+ft, produced by a 2.5ft E wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.8ft SE secondary swell at 9s, a 1ft SSW wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 8s swell period, and conditions rated 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. 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).
