Fire Island Point of Woods

Fire Island Point of Woods (Long Island, NY, USA) is a beachbreak surf spot on the Atlantic-facing side of Fire Island, off the South Shore of Long Island. It sits in a relatively exposed stretch of coast, so it can pick up groundswell and storm swell well, especially when conditions line up from the E/SE/S.

Surf character

• Type: Beachbreak
• Wave shape: Often punchy and sectiony, with short rides on smaller days and cleaner, more makeable peaks when sandbars align
• Best for: Intermediate to advanced surfers, though it can be fun for all levels on smaller, softer surf

Conditions

• Best swell: East, southeast, and south swells
• Wind: Generally best with W/NW offshore winds; E/NE winds tend to make it bumpy
• Tide: Tide sensitivity varies with sandbars, but many peaks work best around mid tide; high tide can soften it, low tide can make it dumpy

Seasonality

• Best season: Late summer through fall is often the most consistent, with hurricane and tropical storm swell adding size and shape
• Winter: Can get powerful and cold, with stronger nor’easter swells, but conditions are often more challenging
• Summer: Smaller and more user-friendly most of the time

Crowd and access

• Access can be limited depending on parking, ferry/boat access, and protected areas on Fire Island.
• Crowds are usually lighter than mainland Long Island beachbreaks, but that depends heavily on the exact access point and time of year.

Hazards

• Strong currents and rips can develop, especially on larger swells
• Sandbars shift frequently, changing takeoff zones and wave quality
• Local rules and access restrictions may apply in some parts of Fire Island