Poles is a reef break that serves up shifty, reef-sculpted peaks with both rights and lefts over a bottom of rock and sand. Its triangle-shaped peaks roll in just west of Ditch Plains. The spot was once called Fortress, after the WWII-era bunkers set along the long backbone of dunes out front, and later became Poles for the pilings that rose from the beach until a major storm wiped them away.
When It Works
Poles works from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft, roughly waist high up to well overhead, and it draws swell from east-southeast through south to southwest (ESE-S-SW). The peaks need significant size to keep rolling, so this is a medium-to-large-swell spot that comes alive through autumn and winter, from September through March. When hurricane season fills in, Outside Poles lines up into one of the longest and softest waves around. It can get pretty good on the bigger days, though it usually stays softer than other spots nearby.
Wind and Tide
This is a low-tide spot, best on low tide with a rising tide generally the better of it. The workable wind window runs from northwest to north-northeast (NW-NNE), and it cleans up best with a north-northeast (NNE) offshore.
Local Tips
Fish and longboards both make sense here, and the softer, forgiving nature of the wave suits beginners and intermediates. Expect a fairly quiet lineup with a somewhat reserved atmosphere.
Access
Getting in can be tricky, so mind the cliff walk and the rocks on the way down. Paddling out is doable but can be tough on bigger swells. The water is generally pretty clean.
