Fort Pickens

Westend of Gulf Islands National Seashore

Wave Type

Beach Break / Point Break

Wave Size Range

Waist to Head High

Best Swell Direction

E,SE,

Bottom Type

Sand / Rock

Hazards

Locals,Few Sharks

Comments

The break is along the jetty that runs into the bay, needs the right tide and swell direction to break. When the condtions are right, it's a 25 to 50 yard long left with sloopy walls!

Pensacola Pier

Hwy 98, next to the water park

Wave Type

Beach Break

Wave Size Range

Waist to Head High

Best Swell Direction

E,SE,S

Bottom Type

Sand

Hazards

Locals

Comments

A good inside with long lefts and lots of little barrels! The outside is mostly mushy but has some killer drops. The lineup gets very crowded on weekends.

Navarre Beaches

Santa Rosa Island

Wave Type

Beach Break

Wave Size Range

Waist to Head High

Best Swell Direction

E,SE,S

Bottom Type

Sand

Hazards

None

Comments

A well spread out area with lots of spots to surf by yourself, mostly an inside break with good little barrels. Always a little bigger than FWB, when the swells out of the east!

Navarre Pier

East end of Santa Rosa Island

Wave Type

Beach Break

Wave Size Range

Waist High to Overhead

Best Swell Direction

E,SE,S

Bottom Type

Sand

Hazards

Locals,Pier Owner

Comments

A great middle break on both sides of the pier, with long lefts and short bowly rights! Do not park at the pier!!! the owner is a Jerk and hates surfers for some reason, but you can park to the east of the pier. It's got lots of parking and showers to rinse off.

Okaloosa Island Beaches

Santa Rosa Blvd.

Wave Type

Beach Break

Wave Size Range

Waist High to 2' Overhead

Best Swell Direction

E,SE,S,SW,W

Bottom Type

Sand

Hazards

Swimmers

Comments

Along Santa Rosa Blvd. there are about 5 public boardwalks that access the
beach. All have an inside, that works on smallier days and an outside for bigger days. It's best to check all the boardwalks to find the best waves. These spots are usually uncrowded, and better when the winds are light.

Okaloosa Island Pier

Hwy 98, next to the Gulfarium

Wave Type

Beach Break

Wave Size Range

Waist High to 2' Overhead

Best Swell Direction

E,SE,S

Bottom Type

Sand

Hazards

Locals,Swimmers

Comments

Has an inside that breaks on small to medium days with good power & outside break that breaks on larger days with long walls and lots of power. On sunny days theres lots of swimmers and fisherman, so it's good to keep your distance from the peir. Parking is to the east of the Pier.

West Jetty / NCO Beach Club

Hwy 98, just before the Destin bridge

Wave Type

Beach Break

Wave Size Range

Waist High to 2' Overhead

Best Swell Direction

E,SE,S

Bottom Type

Sand

Hazards

Locals,Few Sharks

Comments

Parking is at the NCO Beach Club, which is free most of the season, but on the big weeekends in the summer they charge a couple of dollars, so it's best to get there before they open (10 am) to aviod the fee. The break is spread out, with the best waves usually down closer toward the jetty, which is a few hundred feet east! With the jetty blocking some of the wind and current, the waves are usually cleaner with east and southeast winds blowing! The wave is a strong, bowling inside with lots of tubes and of course some closeouts too!

Jetty East

End of Holiday Isle

Wave Type

Beach Break

Wave Size Range

Chest High to 1' Overhead

Best Swell Direction

S,SW,W

Bottom Type

Sand

Hazards

Parking

Comments

This is the worst place to find a spot to park, because it's mostly condos and retired people. When the cold fronts in the fall and winter pass thru, the winds are mostly NW and the swell from the SW. The jetty blocks the current and the condos cut down on the wind, making this the place to be after the front. The sand bar is a middle break with good form!

Grayton Beach

5-10 miles east on Hwy C30A

Wave Type

Beach Break

Wave Size Range

Waist to Head High

Best Swell Direction

SW,W

Bottom Type

Sand

Hazards

None

Comments

The beaches are clean and deserted, it doesn't get much better if you like to surf alone! The waves seem to be a little bigger than FWB on West swells, you just have to find a good sand bar.

Panama City Pier

Panama City Beach

Wave Type

Beach Break

Wave Size Range

Chest to Overhead

Best Swell Direction

S,SW,W,NW

Bottom Type

Sand

Hazards

Locals

Comments

An inside that breaks on both sides of the pier,with long lefts on the west side & long rights on the east side. Parking is across the street from the pier. Breaks best after the cold fronts past! Also this is one of the best fishing piers on the Gulf Coast!!

Saint Andrews State Park

Eastern most end of Panama City Beach

Wave Type

Beach Break

Wave Size Range

Waist to Dbl. Overhead

Best Swell Direction

SE,S,SW,W,NW

Bottom Type

Sand

Hazards

Locals

Comments

It's always bigger here on W & NW swells, after the cold fronts come thru in the fall and winter. A great middle to inside break that can hold size (double overhead). The park doesn't open till 7am, they charge a few dollars to get in also, but it's a very nice park with lots of wildlife and scenery!

Shell Island

Across the pass from Saint Andrews Park

Wave Type

Beach Break

Wave Size Range

Waist to 2' Overhead

Best Swell Direction

W,NW

Bottom Type

Sand / Rock

Hazards

Few Sharks

Comments

Only reachable by boat or long paddle across pass. The paddle across takes about 30 minutes, but you have to watch out for the current, if it's running out real fast, you have to walk north up the beach, so you don't get sucked out the pass!! It can be only a foot or two at the Park and be three to four feet here and smoking! Breaks best on NW swells after the cold fronts pass. The wave comes out of the deep channel then bounces of the jetty and forms a top to bottom right hander, that will rock your world!!