Bayside / New Jersey / United States

This is a place for expert wind and kite surfers, but anyone who has the abilities to go out here will find it a pleasant place offering decent water. It’s on the inside of Seaside Park, facing the mainland rather than the ocean, so it‘s a little bit more sheltered than the beaches on the other side.

The beach is sandy and it’s clear, no rocks or anything else to get in the way. It is only small though, and the launching point is a bit tight as there are boats moored just down wind, by the pier. Wear a shorty suit in summer as temperatures will be around 26c.

The best months here are from May to September, when the thermal; winds give fairly consistent conditions. It will be running between 15 and 20 knots at these times, and the best direction is when it is from the southwest. It will blow in this direction for 2 or 3 days at a time before switching to an onshore westerly. Fall and spring tend to only give northeast winds, and then only when there is a cold front nearby. There aren’t any waves here, the most you’ll get is a bit of a chop.

The streets round here give a decent amount of space for parking, mostly less than 5 minutes walk from the beach. There are also a couple of places to stay nearby, though the beach itself doesn’t have any public facilities.

The only real hazard here is the pier and the boats moored to it as you launch – it’s also a sheltered spot at this point and the wind often drops just as you want it to be blowing consistently. Once out, just keep your eyes open for boats.