16th Ave. is the surfer's beach in Belmar, a sand-bottomed beach break sitting right across from Eastern Lines Surf Shop. Peaks break both left and right, and this whole stretch is capable of ultra-hollow barrels, with room to spread out when it's firing.
When It Works
The bank draws swell from east-northeast through southeast to south and breaks well across all of those directions. It works from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 3 m / 10 ft, so anything from waist high up to well overhead is in play. A good southeast swell is when the hollow barrels really show up. Autumn and winter are the seasons to target, roughly September through March, when the spot moves from a solid everyday beach break into something that can serve up super fun surf on the right day. The paddle out is usually short, though it can turn into a challenge on bigger swells.
Wind and Tide
Offshore is a west (W) wind, with a workable wind window running from southwest to northwest. It favours low to mid tide, and a rising tide is generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is an approachable peak that suits everyone from beginners through to experts, and it handles just about any board, from shortboards and fish to funboards, longboards, and bodyboards. Expect a moderately busy lineup when the surf is good, and the vibe in the water tends to be somewhat reserved.
Access
Getting in is easy, and there is plenty of parking nearby, which does make it that much easier for the lineup to fill up. Just keep an eye out for beach badges in the summer months, and watch for the groins along this stretch.
