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.
Sun, May 10: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 3-4ft waves and poor - fair conditions with moderate ENE wind around 9mph.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with strong NNE wind at 18mph.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 13mph N winds.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with strong SSW wind at 13mph.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 3-4ft waves on SSE swell at 8s and 11mph WSW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
6s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 3-4ft with a 8.1s swell period. Wind is NE at 7mph and 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 3-4ft, produced by a 0.3ft ESE primary swell at 13s, a 3.8ft SE wind swell swell at 8s. 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 3ft waves, a 5.85s swell period, and conditions rated 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
