Gordons Pond surf guide
Surf: General: Five minutes from Rehoboth Beach inside Cape Henlopen State Park, Gordons Pond is not as celebrated or as consistent as the long rights on offer at Naval Jetties to the north, but it’s nonetheless a less-crowded summertime option, and a veritable S swell magnet. A good option when most of the rest of Delmarva is victory-at-sea, this jetty-strewn beachbreak can get heavy and hollow and can hold well-overhead hurricane surf.
Tides: Works on all tides.
Size: Knee-high-double overhead.
Wind: W
Swell: E, ESE, SE, SSE, S
Bottom: Sand and maybe a few stumpy surprises here and there.
Paddling: Shorebreak is rad — maximum reward for minimum effort.
Spot Rating: Right now, a wave you’ve never heard of is on the cook — might be this one.
Access: Cape Henlopen State Park is open year-round from 8am to sunset — $5 entry fee for Delaware registered vehicles, $10 for out-of-state vehicles.
Crowds: Crowd Factor: If you’re here and I’m here doesn’t that make it our time?
Local Vibe: We’ve never met Gordon, but assume they're mellow.
Environment: Located inside a State Park, there’s no pollution to speak of. Historically passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time.
Hazards: Rips, debris, sea lice, submerged tree stumps.
Season: September-December