I can’t give away my secret spots—hence they’re secrets— but there’s good surfing all through Deal and Long Branch.

Right near campus there’s The Pit, down by the Windmill. A lot of people surf there, and the people tend to be friendly. If the waves get big it can get heavy there, but it’s not common.

I’m a lifeguard for the Beach Haven Beach Patrol, and we’ve got some good spots down there in LBI. Taylor Ave. tends to pick up swell pretty well. I’ve heard that communications cables were laid there during WWII, so there’s a hard surface underneath. Whatever it is, the swell can get one to two feet bigger there than everywhere else.

Just south of there is 5th St. Pavilion. The breaks there are friendly enough for beginners.

Farther south is Holyoke Ave. It’s a really nice spot if you’re a goofy footer¹. Especially on the northeast swell— it tends to break right off the jetty and peel left. It’s a magnificent wave.

The wooden jetty, the very last jetty on the island, is really popular. But I don’t recommend you paddle out there unless you’re an intermediate or advanced surfer. It’s a hazardous wave. There are submerged rocks and the wave tends to break before the je ty. You have to cross the jetty and the wave takes you down into a bird sanctuary where there are rip currents.

I’ve gotten stuck there and it takes a while to get out. The number one thing to do if you get stuck in a rip current is keep your composure and stay calm in the water, because if you start to freak out that’s when problems occur.

¹ Surfers who put their right foot forward on the board tend to favor waves that break left, says Spicer.