Dawn patrol surfing in Spring Lake

Spring Lake, New Jersey

Sunrise and first light times for planning your dawn patrol session.

First light in Spring Lake means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 4 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

6:50 AM
First Light: 6:20 AM

Day length: 11h 55m

-3 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

6:50 AM

First light: 6:20 AM

Sunset

6:45 PM

Last light: 7:15 PM

Data from Kook Bay (Spring Lake) · Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

6:50 AM

Sunset

6:45 PM

Day Length

11h 55m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

6:51 AM

Sunset

6:43 PM

Day Length

11h 52m

Thu, Oct 1

Sunrise

6:52 AM

Sunset

6:42 PM

Day Length

11h 50m

Fri, Oct 2

Sunrise

6:53 AM

Sunset

6:40 PM

Day Length

11h 47m

Sat, Oct 3

Sunrise

6:54 AM

Sunset

6:38 PM

Day Length

11h 44m

Best dawn patrol spots in Spring Lake

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Featured Beaches(4)

Kook Bay (Spring Lake)

Beginner friendly

Commonly called Kook Bay or Surfer's Beach, this is Spring Lake's most popular surfing beach.

Mambo Beach

Intermediate

Mambo Beach is a hollow beach-break at the north end of Spring Lake, punchier than the mellow Washington zone.

South End Jetty

Intermediate

The South End Jetty pushes the sandbar farther outside, creating a bigger-wave option.

Washington Beach

Beginner friendly

Washington Beach is a designated surfing beach at the north end of Spring Lake, known as a longboard haven.

Dawn patrol access guide for Spring Lake

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Kook Bay (Spring Lake)
beach
beginner-intermediate

Commonly called Kook Bay or Surfer's Beach, this is Spring Lake's most popular surfing beach.

Early access

Designated surfing beach at the south end of Spring Lake.

Parking

Street parking near the south end.

Mambo Beach
beach
intermediate

Mambo Beach is a hollow beach-break at the north end of Spring Lake, punchier than the mellow Washington zone.

Early access

North end of Spring Lake beachfront.

Parking

Street parking along Ocean Avenue.

South End Jetty
jetty
upper-intermediate

The South End Jetty pushes the sandbar farther outside, creating a bigger-wave option.

Early access

South end of Spring Lake beachfront, near Sea Girt border.

Parking

Street parking along the south end of Ocean Avenue.

Washington Beach
beach
beginner

Washington Beach is a designated surfing beach at the north end of Spring Lake, known as a longboard haven.

Early access

Walk from Washington Avenue to the beach. Beach badge required in summer.

Parking

Street parking on Washington Avenue.

Dawn patrol tips

  • Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
  • Less crowded lineups at sunrise
  • East-facing beaches for sunrise views
  • Spots with easy parking for early arrivals

Surf Guides for Spring Lake

Conditions

Dawn Patrol
You're here
Sunset Sessions
Evening golden hour spots
Tide Windows
Optimal tidal conditions
Water Temperature
Conditions & wetsuit guide

Style

Beginner Spots
Gentle waves for learning
Longboard Spots
Mellow waves for logging
Less Crowded
Quieter lineups & backups

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Spring Lake

Dawn patrol in Spring Lake typically starts at first light, around 30 minutes before sunrise. This gives you the glassiest conditions before onshore winds develop.
Early morning offers glassy conditions, fewer crowds, and calmer winds. Water temperature is also warmer relative to air temperature at sunrise.

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