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Naval Jetties

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Ideal surf conditions at Naval Jetties

Swell window
NE, S
Best swell direction
S
Swell size
4ft - 8ft
Swell breaks over
Sand
Wave directions
Right
Wind window
W
Best tides at
Low, Mid, High
Skill Level
Intermediate, Expert
Seasons
Autumn
Board types
Shortboard, Funboard, Longboard, Fish

Naval Jetties surf guide

Surf: Long rights off the groin on its day. Has potential to get heavy, hollow, and fast without sectioning. Good spot in hurricane swells. Best on S swells and low tides. Holds a good size. Often a good place when Maryland is getting a bit out of control. Watch out for submerged tree stumps. Not particularly consistent, and rarely crowded. No pollution. Surf: General: Two miles east of Lewes and located within Cape Henlopen State Park, Naval Jetties is the closest thing you'll find to a pointbreak and also the nearest thing Delaware has to hills, as the sand dunes are the largest between Cape Hatteras and Cape Cod. The right breaks off a jetty on top of a sandbar held together by ancient cedar tree stumps. At low tide, it can be like surfing through a cemetery. The spot is fickle, but occasionally produces lengthy rights on the right swells. It's a one-spot takeoff, so two carloads make a crowd. Tides: Low and incoming Size: Chest high-overhead Wind: Southwest or West Swell: S, SE, NE Bottom: Sand with many cedar stumps. Paddling: Not bad but can be some work on certain swells. Spot Rating: It takes the right swell but can be good on its day. Access: Paid parking lot -- price varies for in-state and out of state. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Can be if it is working. Local Vibe: Can get a little chippy on good days. Environment: Not too bad. Hazards: Since it's a favorite byway for dolphins just a few feet offshore, they may mistake your toes for blue fish. Season: Storm dependent: tropical cyclones in the late summer and fall with frontal activity and nor'easters in the late fall and winter.

Written by Joris de Ruiter

Joris is a dad, husband, surfer, software developer, yogi and swimmer. He combines his passion for surfing and technology to help others catch more and better waves.

Surf reports nearby Naval Jetties