L Jetty (Spring Lake–Belmar)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Chop, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
L Jetty (Spring Lake–Belmar) is an exposed beach/jetty surfing break at the Spring Lake–Belmar border south of Belmar. Surf is described as reasonably consistent and can work at any time of the year, with the overall conditions often improving seasonally as water temperatures rise. Wave character at the jetty is defined by steep, hollow takesoffs right near the structure that can fatten into an inside wall over a smooth sand bottom. Providers also describe short, punchy rides off the jetty that can connect for longer runs when sandbars are well formed. Reported wave quality is generally good to very workable, and the setup is commonly groomed by west winds. Safety is a major theme for this spot. Multiple sources highlight rip currents/intense rips near the jetty, along with shallow sandbar conditions that can become extremely shallow, plus hazards associated with the jetty zone (including outflow pipes/pipes and rocks). Because of this, providers recommend extra care when falling and emphasize that hazards are not just theoretical—especially around the takeoff area. Timing matters: one baseline source lists best tide as low, while another describes mid tide as often preferred and also calls out incoming low tide as best. Wind is frequently cleanest with west winds, and the best reported month for conditions is September (with broader favorable autumn windows noted). Crowd levels are described as often crowded, with a much quieter winter season.
- Consistent jetty-generated surfing year-round
- West winds are offshore/cleanest
- Steep, hollow takeoffs near the jetty with inside-wall potential
- Strong hazard profile around rips and shallow sandbar
- Exposed jetty break with reasonably consistent surfing
- Strong jetty-generated sandbar shaping that can produce good inside-wall action
- Best wind groomer is west winds (offshore/cleanest conditions)
- Often described as suitable across many levels, with intermediate performance being common
- Intense rips/rip currents near the jetty
- Shallow sandbar can get dangerously shallow
- Outflow pipes/pipes and submerged hazards near the jetty zone
- Rocks at the jetty and potentially heavy crowds at peak times
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W
- Offshore directions
- W
- Wind Type
- Mixed — Providers describe west to northwest/southwest winds; wind type varies by system/conditions.
- Reliability
- 38% blown, 41% clean, 21% small (monthly split reported); reliability described as medium by another provider.
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusts reported.
- Best Months
- September
- Shadow Zones
- Small area of protection from north winds due to the jetty.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach composition.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Wave size described as medium; another source labels it flat in a general physical snapshot, while surfing writeups emphasize usable surf from head high to triple overhead.
- Chop Level
- Heavy chop — Water is described as chop overall.
- Launch
- Medium — Near the jetty with steep takeoff in front of the jetty; sandy beach launch area adjacent to the rock jetty.
Through the year
Ultra crowded in summer; empty in winter.
August to October can bring tropical systems and Nor'easters.
By sport
What to expect for each.
An exposed beach/jetty break at the Spring Lake–Belmar boundary. Steep, hollow takesoffs near the jetty transition into an inside wall over a smooth sand bottom; sandbars can produce longer connections when formed. Peaks can be consistent with options across swell directions, though conditions can become hazardous with rips and shallow sections near the jetty.
- Optimal Swell
- NE, NNE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low — Providers diverge on tide preference: one reports mid tide often preferred; another reports best on an incoming low tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed shoreline/jetty setup; jetty provides limited localized protection from certain wind directions.
- Wind Effect
- Best with west winds; west winds are offshore and provide the cleanest conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Can handle larger swells up to double overhead before closing out (reported).
- Wave Quality
- Good — Wave quality described as good.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate wave power reported.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — One provider describes hollow wave faces near the jetty; another describes peeling shape—overall character is a jetty-generated hollow/peeling setup depending on conditions.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peel speed described as medium.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Ride length described as up to 150 meters; other descriptions note short, punchy rides with the option to connect longer on well-formed sandbars.
- Ride Length Details
- Up to 150 meters reported; otherwise short, punchy rides from the jetty with the possibility of longer connections when sandbars hold.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for L Jetty (Spring Lake–Belmar) in the full forecast view.
L Jetty (Spring Lake–Belmar) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–11 ktsGusts 19 kts
- Direction
- NNW343°
- Strongest day
- Tue, Oct 2711 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.4–1.1 m7s period
- Temperature
- 6–19 °C
Over the next 7 days, L Jetty (Spring Lake–Belmar) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–11 kts, peaking around 11 kts on Tuesday, October 27 with gusts to 19 kts. The prevailing direction is NNW. Waves run 0.4–1.1 m with a period of about 7s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks (jetty)
- Rip currents
- Intense rips
- Shallow sandbar / very shallow sand at times
- Outflow pipes (pipes/potential hazards near the jetty)
- What lies beneath
- Cold water in winter
- Heavy crowds
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard coverage reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability described as limited; beach patrol coverage is seasonal.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospital reported as Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune; call 911 for emergencies.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Local crowd behavior noted as more than purely casual at peak times.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the lineup and any seasonal restrictions.
- Beach badges required during summer months (Memorial Day to Labor Day).
- Surfing may be restricted to certain zones during lifeguard hours.
- Use caution when falling due to intense rips.
- Sandbar can get insanely shallow.
- Best surfed on an incoming low tide.
- Parking fills up very quickly on good swell days.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Belmar
- Nearest Town
- Bradley Beach
- Parking
- Metered street parking along Ocean Avenue; parking can fill quickly on good swell days.
- Public Transport
- NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line with stations in Belmar and Spring Lake.
- Access
- Just south of Belmar, New Jersey; near the jetty at Spring Lake (public access via the boardwalk at the end of 18th Avenue in Belmar).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous hotels and rentals available in Belmar and Spring Lake.
- Food & Drink
- Various restaurants and cafes on the Belmar boardwalk.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental available via nearby surf shops in Belmar.
- Gear Storage
- No reliable public storage indicated; most visitors use private storage or vehicle-based storage.
- Gear Repair
- Gear repair available at local surf shops in the area.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at L Jetty (Spring Lake–Belmar)?
The best overall months at L Jetty (Spring Lake–Belmar) are September, October, November. The best wind months are September.
Which wind directions work at L Jetty (Spring Lake–Belmar)?
L Jetty (Spring Lake–Belmar) works with W winds. Offshore directions are W.
What skill level is L Jetty (Spring Lake–Belmar) suitable for?
L Jetty (Spring Lake–Belmar) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Beginner to Intermediate.