Assateague reef?

Discussion in 'Mid Atlantic' started by DPR, Feb 7, 2009.

  1. DPR

    DPR Well-Known Member

    303
    Jan 27, 2008
    Does assateague island have reefs because i heard it does?
     
  2. oipaul

    oipaul Well-Known Member

    671
    May 23, 2006
    there are, they're mostly naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles ranging in diameter from 0.0625 (or 1⁄16 mm, or 62.5 micrometers) to 2 millimeters.
    :D
     

  3. DPR

    DPR Well-Known Member

    303
    Jan 27, 2008
    that just confused me. Why dont people surf there then? and how shallow do the reefs get?
     
  4. epidemicepic

    epidemicepic Well-Known Member

    502
    Feb 21, 2008

    "naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles"

    ...that just happens to be what sand is composed of, and people surf there all the time.
     
  5. DPR

    DPR Well-Known Member

    303
    Jan 27, 2008
    Oh so theres no reefs there then? And how about jetties? or anyhing else? Besides the one at wedge i already know that one.
     
  6. epidemicepic

    epidemicepic Well-Known Member

    502
    Feb 21, 2008
    nope, just naturally formed sandbars
     
  7. bmore surf

    bmore surf Well-Known Member

    112
    May 20, 2006
    I love when people get nerdy and funny at the same time! For those of you trying to dumb it down please don't ! Its funnier this way.
     
  8. Lumpy

    Lumpy Well-Known Member

    267
    Aug 28, 2006
    :D too funny!!
     
  9. Swellinfo

    Swellinfo Administrator

    May 19, 2006
    there's no reefs that I am aware of, but there are shoals about a 1/4 mile or so off the coast. The shoals will break on a solid swell. You need to anchor a boat out there or take a jet ski partner to surf them, and people claim it gets really good, while spots in town are just closing out. Plenty of people have surfed the shoals.

    Really fun to shred on a jet ski on any small little swell too.
     
    Last edited: Feb 7, 2009
  10. wbsurfer

    wbsurfer Well-Known Member

    Mar 30, 2008
    then were are the shoals?
     
  11. DPR

    DPR Well-Known Member

    303
    Jan 27, 2008
    Arnt they a little bit south of the wedge in assateague? And yeh it does seem like its good there. What about a spot called the hole, is that made up?
     
  12. SurfJdog

    SurfJdog Well-Known Member

    165
    Sep 28, 2008
    The shoals break just south of the ocean city inlet about a half mile or so offshore...It breaks only on lower tides and the surf has to be at least 5 feet I'd say. They can be tough waves to catch just sitting in one spot so having a tow is the best way to attempt it...
     
  13. DPR

    DPR Well-Known Member

    303
    Jan 27, 2008
    When the camera you could control of the oc inlet worked, i saw the shoals on it and i was wondering why the waves were breaking so far out. But it looked really chpooy out there and the inlet was really good.
     
  14. SURF4LIFE

    SURF4LIFE Well-Known Member

    69
    Feb 8, 2008
    as any shoal or outer reef is, you need all the elements (swell, wind direction and swell size)to line up right for them to produce a wave worth while, plus the current on the shoals are crazy fast so a boat or ski is needed
     
  15. wbsurfer

    wbsurfer Well-Known Member

    Mar 30, 2008
    i might have to hit it up take out the ski when its good when i go up there.
     
  16. nappydreads

    nappydreads Well-Known Member

    45
    Oct 25, 2007
    shark park out there and the locals suck...stay on the beach
     
  17. Salty

    Salty Well-Known Member

    159
    Jul 10, 2008
    jeez -where is this "reef" b.s. coming from? it's just a freakin sandbar, just like any other sandbar on the delmarva - it just happens to be deeper and much farther out than in OC - since it's deeper, it takes a bigger swell and lower tide to break! assateague is a barrier island, just like the islands of the outer banks - but the surf generally doesn't get as good as the surf in the outer banks cuz it doesn't have the best angle, (depending of course on the direction of swell, winds, etc.) the best way to check it is to drive way, way, way the hell down to the island to see for yourself! if you like it, surf it! (just keep out of the way of everyone else, cuz i've seen it crowded! i wouldn't recommend it - its a long drive, and lots of people aren't up to the long paddle out - i've seen sharks in the water, too, so best stick to OC
     
  18. SkegLegs

    SkegLegs Well-Known Member

    513
    Feb 8, 2009
    Just a fair warning, the shark talk about the shoals is true. There has been many many trips we just ran the boat back and surfed town because of seeing too many fins. It's a grey man party, and the way the swell hits, you have to anchor your boat / ski 200-300 yards outside, add in the shoal bend, plus ride length, current movement, and it's one LONG LONG paddle back to safety if you start seeing the curious fishy. Never been a big fan of paddling 15-20 minutes back to the boat AFTER getting spooked by sharks. Stick to Assateague, essentially the same set up.
     
  19. MDSurfer

    MDSurfer Well-Known Member

    Dec 30, 2006
    Not deep, but very fickle

    The Shoals off Assateague are not especially deep, but the waves there tend to be very fickle, and you can't really tell what it's doing unless you go out there and eyeball it. A friend and I went out in my Jetboat and I got a reading of 3' in the impact zone on a 3' day with my depth finder. The waves were barely breaking so it wasn't worth riding that day, except in the Jet Boat. I think I scared the hell out of my friend when I came off the top of one little set because he didn't want to "pitch pole" the boat. Full throttle punched it right through. Never seen any sharks there, but I'm sure there are some- They do tend to live in the ocean afterall. I've seen more sharks in the back bay than in the ocean, pretty little black fins all around the boat, but I wasn't about to hop in to clear out the eelgrass from the intake. And yes, the men in gray suits do like shallow water.
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2009
  20. wbsurfer

    wbsurfer Well-Known Member

    Mar 30, 2008
    sharks dont scare me.