Assateague, Maryland

apples and oranges. Totally different. Assateague has a sand bar and OC does not anymore. Just look at Google early and you can see the difference between allowing a barrier island to drift (in this case inland) and one that is hardened (OC) with consequence of dumpers, etc. Whether that particular forecast is correct I do not know but I use the Swell model for OC to best predict Assateague. To my knowledge surf models do not include bathometric info.

 

I've never found that site (surfassateague) to be accurate. They've been around forever and I can't believe they base their "surf conditions" off any kind of visual check. I think they just take the wave height from the buoy report. Too many days like today when there is some blown out wind chop and they call it waist hi.

I disagree with the sand bar assessment above. The last few swells I checked Assateague first, ended up bailing on waves there that were hardly breaking, and found conditions better in town. The sand bars come, the sand bars go.

 

I agree with Mitchell 100%. Surfed in town this last swell at dead low and received a pic from a friend that surfed Assateague at the same time and in town was way better. Usually incoming is best in town and outgoing to low Assateague is better. I chose in town because of the lack of daylight left. Had I had more time I would have chosen Assateague because of the tide. but after seeing the pics Assateague had nothing on in town. "sand bars come and sand bars go" whats true one season changes to the next. I love Assateague and prefer to go there but I go where the waves are best.

 

I also think there is a difference between the state park and the national park. It seems like these past few years (which is how long I've been back on the east coast surfing delmarva), the bars at state formed closer to the beach than the bars at national. That seemed to translate to state being ridable on small swell while national was flat, and state closing out on bigger swells while national held up. There weren't too many bigger days this past summer/early fall to validate the latter point, but that's what it seemed like.

Rangers have told me that MD will move sand to maintain the dune system so it protects the camping sites and concession area of the state park, while the US Park Service takes a total hands-off approach for the part of AI they manage. Not sure if that has anything at all to do with it.

The last time I surfed AI (maybe a month ago?), it was closeout city at the state park on a 3+ ft day, where it had been pretty fun on a similar sized swell a few weeks earlier. Town was super fun a few days ago on a 2-4 ft calm-to-offshore wind day, around low tide.

 

What kind of suit are you wearing for the next month or so? I may be comming up.

 

Im in my 3/2 with booties. Im comfy but I don't think this will last too much longer. 4/3 will be the better option. some guys are using their hoodies although it seems a bit early for me. hope this helps.

 

Thanks man. I appreciate it.

 

A belated response. We heard all spring and early summer that the sand bars were back in OC. Our view from 57 and 43rd was that it was not so great and on days we were there we found it better at Teague although you had to pick your spot. I am wondering if on those comparison days it wasn't due to the fact that often this fall the wind and swell direction were not the best for Teague. We found NJ to work better on those days. Anyway you guys sound pretty local and we are occaisonals - so will defer and give town more of a look. Care to tell what streets worked best this fall?

 

The sandbars at Assateague are going, going, gone. Huge ditch and a long paddle is back. No more small swells breaking near the beach. If there is anyone that could be called a local of the Island it would be me, I live right there and work on the Island.

 

I live as close to ai bridge as you can...bike ride for me. After the last 5 day blow we had a few weeks ago dug it out pushing bar way off the beach in areas...but with that being said, there are areas orv accessible that break much closer and break crazy good but still a different type of break...in general, ai can be weak but longer and best at low, where as OC is steeper and generally much shorter ride...but not always the case...just got do a little orv searching. Surfed this morning at OC..pretty weak/small...ai would of probably been worse and I ride a short...tho ai is my go to place if the wave is large enough. I can tell you this, ai was the better then OC most of then summer.

 

I'd hope that Coop would post more than less.

Props to the local. Seriously.

 

mrcoop, do you live on Southpoint?

 

i don’t know what you call a long paddle back. I would rather paddle although I haven’t had that experience yet than surf the close outs in town OC. There are time when the surf is decent in OC but overall for me Teague is better unless you are looking for fast moving barrels at the beach and only on occasion. After Sandy the sand bars in OC were similar to the old days prior to replenishment. Sand moves constantly an will change a break in Maryland in days. Some of the spots in OC do stay consistently better. What stage of the tide you pick, wind and swell make all the difference. OC and Teague are close enough that you can surf both either in a morning or afternoon with the tide you want. I have not surfed the State Park at all so I am only thinking of the National Seashore. In regards to surf forecasts an old Hawaiian years ago his philosophy was to go down to the break and if it was breaking surf it, if not do something else. That has worked for me. Enjoy what you have because you may not have it tomorrow..

 

Assateague is garbage. That is all.

 

Exactly. Assateague is only good when its head+ and pumping. Other than that its a soft longboard wave with 100s of kooks in the summer.

 

I don't know when the last time you were there was, but its really not like this since the last nor'easter. Assateague has been closing out badly, and though OC is breaking closer to the shore than Assa, its at least got some breaks that are working better for now. I'm hoping Assateague will be back to "normal" next year, its nice in the summer when OC is packed with lifeguards and restricted beaches.

 

That nor'easter roasted Assateague. What was once good surfing from February through September turned into Senor Closeout post-storm. And OCMD might be even worse. I'll keep trying, through the winter, but it's lame nowadays.

 

I would disagree...this summer, in general, oc was breaking right on the beach...plain and simple, oc sucked in "most" areas...not all...AI, in areas were excellent this summer...even had power for waist high waves with nice lengthy rides, in the right places. In general, its definitely a softer wave...no argument there, but the lay of the bar determines how soft the wave is...gotta poke around.

I would agree...crowds can be bad, but so can oc...its tough to get away from anyone in oc...not AI...I use the orv and I can surf with no one else around...I dont mind sharing some waves with a few, but not a ton. something about surfing by yourself on a perfect day.

 

I think oc is breaking much better after that 5 day blow...in fact, I surf there more then AI now.