Surfing Waves

I'm 175-180 lbs and currently ride a 6'6", 19.5", 2.5" "short"board. Now I'm looking for a retro/fish-type board for 1 to 4' (faces) waves that's smooth and fast (down the line, as opposed to turning). I'd like this board to float through the flat sections and smash through bumpy sections. I'd also like this board to paddle faster and catch waves better than my "short"board. Any suggestions for board dimensions?

You are looking for something fairly thick (around 3" thick) about 6"'s shorter than your normal board, very low rocker.
A twinny(2 fins) will be fast but very loose(like a skate board on marbles) , have plenty of drive and ideal for the wave range youve stated, a quad would be just as fast but would allow a bit more hold on bigger/hollower days.

Why a fish? How about somethng like a retro egg with a quad setup?

As for a fish

smashing through bumpy sections

ive found that when the waves are a little lumpy my fish doesnt like it very much at all and you end up haveing to pump like mad to clear it(i think its something to do with very little rocker)

The shortboard I've got is the exact same size! But I'm about 155lbs (5'7")

I recently got a Fish type of board that's 5'8" x 21" x 2.25" (it's a twin-fin).
It floats me similar to the shortboard. I wouldn't say it paddles faster, but I feel that it is easier to get into waves.
Like FishKid said a twin-fin will be fast and loose, and a quad will also be fast and loose but it won't slide on turns like the twin.

My fish paddles very slowly. When I'm paddling, I'm thinking "Oh my god, there is no way I'm going to catch this wave", and some how it gets in.

i got a bilbo 6'6" retro bug, and it is realy good on small surf and big surf, it is pretty nippy, but i can turn it relativly easy, so it might not be for you if you dont want turning power.

As far as paddling for waves go. The longboard paddles faster as it's longer. Fishes take off on less steep wave faces due to their high volume and flat rockers. So with the fish you go from what seems like paddling slowly to a board that rockets away from you when ur least expecting it. Well for the first time anyway.

KS

kitesurfer wrote:So with the fish you go from what seems like paddling slowly to a board that rockets away from you when ur least expecting it. Well for the first time anyway.

KS

So true...made me think of the first time I stood up on mine.