Can anybody tell me if there is a huge difference between a place like Huntington Beach and the Jersey Shore?I will be surfing NJ for the first time this summer, mostly LBl l think, after spending my surfing life in OC.
by OC l mean Huntington, Newport, etc.

Consistency. There will be almost as many days with decent waves at LB l as there r at Huntington Beach. However, most west coast breaks have waves that break fairly regularly, with about the same period, about the same height, breaking in the same direction. Looking out on a good west coast day, there r lines & lines of waves (not to say that does not happen some days here). Most East coast breaks r less consistent, with waves varying more greatly in period & size. Jersey beach breaks will often break either right or left depending on the wind direction, but for some unexplained reason, u will get a right after four lefts or vice versa. And it seems like more waves close out prematurely in the east.

l have surfed from New York to Florida, & l have noticed a lack of consistency. I've also surfed with some west coast natives, who made the same observations. In my trips out west, l ran into just as many flat days as l do back home, but when a break is on, it is really on.

l have surfed NJ for 42 years, & there r a couple really prime spots that l wo not tell u about on-line. However, l have a spot in South Carolina that l have heard some Californians speak really well of. New Jersey is at its best Fall, Winter & Spring. Summer is not the best time to be there, but at least the water is usually warm. If u end up surfing between Atlantic City & Cape may, l might see u in the line up.