7th Street Surf Guide

7th Street Surf Guide

At Ocean City's famous 7th Street, the waves used to roll right up under the boardwalk at high tide, but recent beach replenishment projects have changed the profile of this beach dramatically. Fun, occasionally hollow rights and lefts provide summer recreation for hundreds of waveriders daily. Big lefts roll off the north jetty during a nor'easter. There is still a decent right off the south jetty on a good southerly swell, but the placement of outfall pipes throughout the lineup has chopped up this break. It has, arguably, the best left in Ocean City when it's on. It really shows its full potential at head-high to double-overhead. Swells jack up off the 7th Street jetty, usually throwing out farther than they are high, then wall up and peel off a little more sanely down the rest of the beach.

Unfortunately, three outfall pipes extend well out into the break, making for hairball near-misses and abbreviated rides during larger swells. When it's on -- meaning head-high to double-overhead -- the paddle out, the steep drop and the sweeping current are usually enough to keep any crowd in check.