LBI Long Beach Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this 16-day window for LBI Long Beach Island is a tough one. The first two weeks are pretty much a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak, and messy conditions, and it’s not until the very end of the period that we finally see a flicker of something worthwhile.

The entire forecast is dominated by tiny, short-period windswell. The first ten days are a real grind, with wave heights mostly under 3 ft and periods of 5 to 7 seconds – that’s just bumpy, gutless stuff. The wind is a constant problem too, swinging between cross, cross-on, and even onshore directions, keeping the surface choppy and ugly. You’ll see a few clean mornings with glassy conditions, but the swell is so small it’s barely rideable. The combined energy readings are pathetic, often in the double digits, like 14 to 29, which tells you just how weak the ocean is.

The water temperature is about 77°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t freeze waiting for a wave.

The only real standout, and I mean the *only* one, is the morning of Tuesday, August 20th. The offshore wind from the Northwest at 9 mph is going to clean up the break nicely. We’ll see a 4 ft swell from the East with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy will be a solid 339 (moderate). That’s the pick of the lot. It’s not huge, but it’s the best wave quality we’re going to get. The afternoon of the same day is also worth a look, with the wind switching to a clean offshore from the Northwest at 9 mph, a 3 ft East swell, and energy of 209. It’s the only period where the forecast literally says “expect good surf conditions.”

Before that, the morning of Saturday, August 15th is the only other time you might get a paddle. The wind is glassy, but the swell is a tiny 2 ft from the Northeast. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.

Word of warning: the swell that appears around the 18th and 19th, with heights up to 5 ft and energy readings over 200, is all onshore or cross-shore wind. That’s a recipe for choppy, blown-out junk. Even though it’s bigger, it’s not worth it for a paddle board. If you’re into kite surfing, those days might look more interesting.

And remember, this is a sandbar break that’s exposed, so it takes all the wind and swell straight on the chin. The crowds can be a factor here sometimes, but honestly, with this forecast, you’ll have plenty of space.

Summing up: if you’re desperate, the morning of August 15th is a glassy gamble, but the real target is the morning of August 20th. That’s your one shot at clean, rideable waves. Everything else is a hard pass.

Rusty, signing off.

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