Bert's Bar surf guide
Surf: General: Sullivan's Island is just south of the Isle of Palms and gets energy from NE/E swells, but the jetty for the shipping lane blocks all southerly energy. On a NE windswell, the peak in front of Bert's Bar once offered board snapping power as it's right next to the shipping channel, so there's deep water just offshore. It's at the end of the south causeway to the island. It can be offshore here when it's howling side/onshore everywhere else. Strong north current on big swells. Shoaling has turned the area into a Kite Boarding mecca, and surf is rarely worthwhile anymore. Hopefully one day the sand will once again cooperate and locals can enjoy the wave.
Tides: Mid to high
Size: Waist-overhead high
Wind: N, NW - NE is side offshore
Swell: NE, E
Bottom: Sand.
Paddling: Hard NE winds and accompanying windswells can produce strong north to south currents. If it is working it will be drifty.
Spot Rating: Scattered peaks with an against the grain bounce that can square up a heavy wave for the size.
Access: Lots of parking. Crowded with cars in summer and on big NE swells, though.
Crowds: Crowd Factor: Can be heavy at Bert's.
Local Vibe: Can be heavy, but it rarely breaks anymore so mostly a non issue.
Environment: Some runoff pollution after heavy rains.
Hazards: Miscellaneous sea creatures.
Season: Late summer, early fall, early spring.