Surfing Waves

I own a 5'10 epoxy quad fin fish. 5'10" X 19 5/8" X 2 3/8". The board spins out of control on chest to head highs waves. I can ride it at my home break on wedgey waves

is that a good thing? maybe you need bigger fins to hold it more solid on the bigger days?

No, like it's bad. It can't bottom turn at sttep spots where you need to bottom turn. What I'm saying is that are most fishes not good in larger waves?? When I bottom turned, my bioard couldn't keep up with the wave, and i would fall. Any suggestions? however, at my spot where teh waves are always wedgey, my board rides fine..

well, I've only surfed on a mates fish, and didn't like it too much to be honest, but from what I've read about them, is that they're good for small waves, but if the surf is good, use larger fins...might be wrong, but thats what I've heard.

yeah, your probably right, fisehs are mad fun though

from what i've been told by people who ride them is that they are good for smaller waves up to chest high then after that the start to get squirly. but i would try to get your hands on some larger fins.

If the spot is steep, fish typically aren't that good, due to the lack of any significant rocker and other design issues.

That's what I learned, it's my first fish. I'm really starting to like ti in certain spots though, due to the long rides. Feels a lot like my longboard skateboard.

A lot of people say they're not good in steeper/bigger surf.

But, I've seen people like Wardo and Rasta riding them in pretty critical surf (granted they are pros).

You may just need to adjust how you approach those sections and were/how you are turning compared to your thruster.

rich r wrote:If the spot is steep, fish typically aren't that good, due to the lack of any significant rocker and other design issues.

It's more down to the fin set-up than anything else. Retro fish lack drive and thrust from their fin set-ups. They rely on generating speed in the less steep sections of the wave. Hence when you take off on a steep wave, drop in and then go to bottom turn your already at the bottom of the wave making a sharp turn At this point the wave face whilst steep behind you isn't steep where the board is. You try to bottom turn with lots of speed but get not much drive from the fins and hence spin out. Wave size upto a point is not that important it's all about steepness. Fish do work well in large mushey waves just like longboards like the less steep stuff.
Agreed they can be used in these conditions if your a great surfer but it's not easy.

KS

This outlines why I hate fish. I have the exact same experience whenever I've ridden a fish - spin out on bottom turns whenever the waves start to get to a nice size . I just put it down to my surfing style being incompatible with fish, I like to do big drawn out bottom turns then smash the fk out of the lip .
I think with fish you have to stay up on the wall more and just wiggle about a bit . I've spent a fair bit of time on fish too as I have a 6.0 I'm now selling.

I suppose when looking at the shape of fish its not surprising they ride the way they do. Basically they are short so they are like having 2 of the short rails from an asymetric - which is the top turn side, not the bottom turn side - hence they are rubbish at bottom turns! Opposite of a gun, which is 2 long rails of an asymetric - which is obviously the bottom turn side so they are not ideal for tight snaps in the pocket!

I mostly ride a 6.0 roundtail which is also harder to do drawn out bottom turns but still easier than a fish, and my other board (6.5 roundtail) is so perfect for these turns its unreal.

I really don't get the massive popularity that fish have gained over the last few years - they are fine in certain conditions but they most definitely are not a board for all conditions which is the way they seem to be used/marketed these days .