Surfing Waves

Is it alright to surf in the evening as long as it's not completely dark yet? At least safe enough? And why are the surf heights high during sunset too, when the tide is high? I don't get it.

onslaught61 wrote:Is it alright to surf in the evening as long as it's not completely dark yet? At least safe enough? And why are the surf heights high during sunset too, when the tide is high? I don't get it.

Surf as long as you feel safe!!!!!! If your scared out of your boardshorts then why be out there? You can't have a lot of fun if your freaked.
As far as heights. I can't answer that. It changes here all the time. Where do you live?

Surf as long as you feel safe!!!!!! If your scared out of your boardshorts then why be out there? You can't have a lot of fun if your freaked.
As far as heights. I can't answer that. It changes here all the time. Where do you live?[/quote]

Maybe I should rephrase, are typically the two best times of the day to surf morning and evening? That's what I noticed about the surf heights, but I can't pinpoint why evening is good when the tide is high. I hear surfers say morning is the best time of day, but I hear here and there that evening has good waves as well.

Mate morning is good because the wind is more often ofshore is all.

What tide works is dependant on the break, tides are dependant on the moon.

One note is that shark activity is higher at sunrise and sunset.

But I've surfed under the full moon before.

Surf to your skill and comfort. And it's good practice to have a buddy with you.

rich r wrote:One note is that shark activity is higher at sunrise and sunset.

But I've surfed under the full moon before.

Surf to your skill and comfort. And it's good practice to have a buddy with you.

yea i pretty much stay really close to the shore and always got my good ol pal with me

You've got more chance of being killed by a sand wall cave in at the beach than you do of being killed by a shark. Don't worry about 'em. 40 years in the water I've never seen a shark that could hurt a person.

Otter wrote:You've got more chance of being killed by a sand wall cave in at the beach than you do of being killed by a shark. Don't worry about 'em. 40 years in the water I've never seen a shark that could hurt a person.

yea sharks never even crossed my mind. stingrays do tho eek haha. not really but the thought of one poking me does.

Yeah, rays are no fun and can seriously damage your session. Avoid them at all costs.

When I was going to school for Marine Technology I had a teacher who said don't pick your feet up while in the ocean. Instead of picking them up don't let them leave the sand. That way if you do get into a ray you don't step on him and most likely the thing that will happen is that once you bump him with your foot he will just get out of your way. He called it the Sting Ray Shuffle.

Dawnies & evening sesh's are always fun as they tend to be a little less crowded & winds often drop or go offshore due to the temperature differences between land & ocean. Wave height completely depends on the swell, wind, tide & break, not what time of day it is.

Yeah, the chance of getting attacked is small - what, 10 people a year in the world? But it still doesn't mean shark activity doesn't go up at sunrise/sunset.

And being close to shore doesn't do anything.. the majority of attacks happen in shallower water.. around 3 feet.

I've often wondered about that 3' statistic. Most attacks probably happen there because that's where most people are, an average so to speak. You've probably got just as much chance being attacked in 20' of water as you would in 3' of water, just that it happens less frequently because there are fewer people hanging out at the 20' depth mark as opposed to the 3' depth mark.
Like Mark Twain said... "There are lies, there are damn lies and there are statistics..."

justloafing wrote:When I was going to school for Marine Technology I had a teacher who said don't pick your feet up while in the ocean. Instead of picking them up don't let them leave the sand. That way if you do get into a ray you don't step on him and most likely the thing that will happen is that once you bump him with your foot he will just get out of your way. He called it the Sting Ray Shuffle.

yea except when you wipeout and fall on the sand =/

rich r wrote:Yeah, the chance of getting attacked is small - what, 10 people a year in the world? But it still doesn't mean shark activity doesn't go up at sunrise/sunset.

And being close to shore doesn't do anything.. the majority of attacks happen in shallower water.. around 3 feet.

any specific shark that roams in shallow waters? im gonna make an obvious assumption that its not the great whites.=D

Aaah, I got poked by a sting ray earlier this year. Only a little one..like 1ft, but they really really hurt! Went to hospital and got the barb removed and it still killed for like a week!

rich r wrote:Yeah, the chance of getting attacked is small - what, 10 people a year in the world? But it still doesn't mean shark activity doesn't go up at sunrise/sunset.

And being close to shore doesn't do anything.. the majority of attacks happen in shallower water.. around 3 feet.

Only ten attacks a year???

Found this on the web, its the statistics for last year.

Besides Florida’s 23 attacks, elsewhere in the United States attacks numbered four in South Carolina; three each in Hawaii and Oregon; two in California; and one each in New Jersey, North Carolina and Texas.

“Within Florida, Volusia County and particularly New Smyrna Beach is the hot spot,” he said. “This area on a square mile basis has more attacks than anyplace else in the world.”


As far as the 3 foot thing, I can honestly say I've only seen sharks around that depth. Usually while walking out till the waters deep enough to start paddling. Never seen one in the line up yet.

Well Florida IS the shark attack capitol of the world. Sharks are a non issue. The chances you will get bit, is like 1-1 000 000. Those are betting odds to me.

eastcoastsurfshop wrote:Dawnies & evening sesh's are always fun as they tend to be a little less crowded & winds often drop or go offshore due to the temperature differences between land & ocean. Wave height completely depends on the swell, wind, tide & break, not what time of day it is.

x2 on this -- just the surf forecast before you paddle out. If you do go out in the evening or morning always try to bring somebody with you for safety reasons. Hell, even if there are no waves, nice to paddle out and just kinda meditate.