Bomb Cyclone Swell Sends Biggest Swell in Years to New Jersey Shoreline

New Jersey: The Garden State of America. Home of the $2 pizza slice and the middle finger. Where Wall Street retreats when the days of the city grow old and the tri-state area flees for summer days at the shore. I called New Jersey home for the first 22 years of my life and even since moving out of state, I still can’t help but forever call this place “home.” A special place that seems to attract nor’easter storms like magnets and generate dark, cold, thick tubes. A place inhabited by some of the funniest, hardworking humans that make up a one of a kind surf community. A place that pumped yesterday (December 18, 2023) thanks to a bomb cyclone swell and hopefully set the tone for the rest of the 23/24 winter season.

Here’s a few moments from yesterday in New Jersey.

The day kicked off with heavy rain and not much in the way of good lighting. Owen Moss managed to not only snag one of the best waves of the morning, but I’d say the most waves of the day as well. Quality and quantity: the kid was on one. Pat Nolan

Brendan Tighe, falling out of a two-story building. Pat Nolan

“Best ever day in Jersey?? Definitely in the conversation,” exclaims NJ’s Rob Kelly. “One claim I’m totally comfortable throwing around was [that this was] definitely the biggest surf I’ve ever seen here. Some of the heaviest too. While I definitely saw empty waves as big and perfect as you can ask for at a beach break, it was definitely a challenge with the stiff offshore winds, the outgoing tide all day and the 14-second period. Nonetheless, having the rare opportunity to experience energy like that so close to home made for a really memorable day; even if the majority of the time I was packing giant closeouts or free falling from the lip.” Pat Nolan

“Don’t know if we will ever see a swell like that again, so I was extra stoked to be here for it and give it a go from wind switch till dark alongside a few of the best young east coast surfers–like Ryan Huckabee, Robbie Goodwin, Owen Moss, and Stevie Pitman– who flew in for the swell.” Pat Nolan

Seeing theses photos without any insight, you’d think these were from two separate days. In reality, the day kicked off with heavy rain, flooding and winds throughout the state. Once the morning turned to noon, the rain finally broke and the sun came through. Pat Nolan

Logan Kamen caught a red-eye flight home from the west coast just to stylishly pack this dream runner. Pat Nolan

Ryan Huckabee clocks another lap up the beach for more; definitely a strong day for the current. It wasn’t a rare sight to see guys get denied and swept up the beach. Pat Nolan

There’s something special about east coast lighting in the winter. While the sun’s not out for all that long during the day, it never gets high enough to give you that nasty glare. Once 1:30 PM hit, it felt like golden hour all the way until the sun set. Ryan Huckabee, pictured here, dances with his shadow in that good light. Pat Nolan

They can’t all be ridden. Pat Nolan

Owen, waxing up the magic blade. Pat Nolan

Like Rob noted, some of the best young guns from the East Coast and beyond made the trek over for the swell. Here, the crew times the paddle out for one last session before day’s end. Pat Nolan

Moss, threading a mid-day cave. Pat Nolan

The storm brought major flooding and road closures throughout the Garden State. Pat Nolan

Rob Kelly, getting kicked to shore with the remnants of his equipment Pat Nolan