Rye on the Rocks is a left-breaking reef in New Hampshire that peels over boulders, and it ranks among the state's favorites. It shows up as Bass Beach on most maps, so don't let the name throw you when you're tracking it down.
When It Works
The break favors swell from the east (E), though it will take anything from the northeast through to the southeast. Too much north in the swell tends to flatten things out, while an east or southeast pulse is what really gets it firing. It works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 3.7 m / 12 ft, and size does a lot to shape the wave: on bigger days you get a long, workable wall, while smaller swells leave more of a fat shoulder.
Wind and Tide
Look for a west (W) offshore wind to clean it up. Tide changes this wave dramatically. High tide is a slow cutback fest, either side of dead low turns Rye into a ledgy, growling, hollow pit, and mid tide blends the two. It can work through low, mid, and high, but a rising tide is generally the better call.
Local Tips
That low-tide pit demands a confident, skilled take-off, so it rewards surfers who are comfortable dropping into a hollow, ledgy wave. On higher tides the cutback-friendly wall is far more forgiving, so pick your window to match your comfort level.
Access
There are only a handful of parking spots directly in front of the break, and they tend to be taken by the steady stream of high-tide longboarders. Beyond those, you're looking at free roadside parking.
