The Bowl surf guide

The Bowl is located at the east end of Ponquogue Beach and is shaped by a river jetty. Opinions about this spot vary; some surfers think it’s great, while others feel it falls short. When a decent south swell rolls in, though, you’ll find that many of the skeptics change their minds. On those rare days with solid swell, The Bowl can turn into one of the top big-wave locations in New York. However, for most of the year, it remains a quiet place, especially when compared to other surf spots.

The surf at The Bowl can be pretty fun when the conditions align. It handles swell sizes from about 3ft to 7ft (1 to 2.1 meters) and works best with southeast to south-southeast swells. The waves typically break over sand, creating a mix of beach and jetty breaks. The best time to paddle out is during mid tide, and while it’s doable, it can get tough with bigger swells. The winds from the north to north-northwest are ideal, making for cleaner waves. This spot suits intermediate and expert surfers and works for a range of boards, including shortboards, fish, funboards, longboards, and even bodyboards.

Access to The Bowl is easy, and the crowd factor is generally mellow to moderate, so you won’t feel too cramped out there. It’s worth noting that rip currents can be a hazard, so keep an eye out especially on bigger days. The optimal time to surf here is during autumn and winter, particularly from September through March, when the swells are most consistent.