Trestles (Cape May)

Trestles (Cape May) is a low-profile, exposed sandbar surfing break in the Cape May area. Multiple notes describe fairly consistent surf potential that can function year-round, but it is not easy to access. The biggest factor is access and authorization: the US Coast Guard restricts entry because the break is located on its base, and boat access is required for surfing. One guide also notes surfing has never been officially permitted at this location. As a result, the spot is often described as hard to find and generally empty. On the water, the wave setup is shaped by the sandbar and older submerged infrastructure (including pilings and metal remnants). Conditions can be safer when the wind is offshore (northwest) and the swell is aligned to wrap into the bay system; however, low tide can expose hazardous pilings, and currents from the Delaware Bay can be strong. Sandbar shifts make outcomes less predictable than a fixed reef or point. For best results, look for offshore northwest winds to groom the waves and a southeast-oriented swell component for the most favorable directionality. Ride quality is generally described as average, with short, punchy sessions that depend on shifting sandbars—larger swells may wrap in and can hold better than many other bay options, but can still close out.