l went surfing for the first time a few weekends ago in Ocean City, NJ. l am an East Coaster, living in the DC area. My question is what are the best surfing beaches in my area? I’m going to check out Ocean City, MD this weekend but the surf report has me less than enthused. Ive also be to Outer banks earlier this summer, and the waves did not seem great there, either. So far, Ocean City, NJ seems to be the best one I’ve seen.

Anybody out there know where the best waves are? Much appreciated!

in DC your local break is probably going to be the Potomac. you will be waiting a while for sets though..
otherwise hit NC or NJ for decent hurricane swell.
my vote for best surfing beaches on the East Coast--2 in NC--both secret...

l would definetly say NC. Thats where l surf and the breaks are good. Wrightsville beach NC is a nice beach to surf at and they have good surf shops and all the locals are nice. sometimes the waves can get a little small though. but over all, the waves are great there for all levels of experience.

Well it looks like the batle of the OC's. OCNJ vs. OCMD. l will be honest with you, the east coast is at its worst in summer (of course with northeast coast weather, that is also just about the only time of year when the temperatures r comfortable for surfing for most of us). In the winter, l usually head south several times of year to an undisclosed location in SC that can have great surf (when its on) & be warm enough to enjoy year round.

If u r looking for a place that is an easy drive, l will recommend a few. OCNJ is good, but there r a few better not far away. Cape May at Poverty Beach & States Avenue in AC r usually good (when they r on). l have a favorite two spots in Cape May County, but l will not disclose them on line, they r crowded enough already.
http://surfline.com/travel/index.cfm?id=2147

OCMD is good too, & has a large surfing community, so there r shops & people to surf with. Go a little bit north into Delaware & check out Indian River Inlet, which l tend to prefer. http://surfline.com/surf-report/indian-river-inlet-northeast_5187/travel/

l guess l would not include any of them in the ''BEST'' category, if we were talking the whole east coast. The Outer Banks, NC (and not every day, at every beach) has some world class surf, & does Montauk Point, LI. l have surfed both & been duly impressed. l also have done Cape May County in an October hurricane swell, & it gets REALLY big. l have been surfing since 1966, & for a ride from DC, l would pick any Cape May/Atlantic County NJ break. But, with the price of gas, OCMD & Indian River look mighty appealing.

l surfed most of the outer banks up to nj...and the best places are probably hatteras, nc and ocracoke island, nc.

Outer Banks. All East Coast surf is pretty much hit or miss. We do not get many long range swells like the West Coast so a spot can be flat for weeks on end and then all of a sudden start firing.

l lived in MD and the surfing is ok l like it but l also like daytona and folly beach in SC