Fish Surfboard

[arod222]

Okay so i longboarded (8ft) and i could stand. I can also stand while wake surfing and for as long as i want. I got a 6'2 shortboard and i can stand. Its not that i will get up and fall, but i wont be able to get my feet in the right position to stand. So i want to get a fish (several people have told me to buy one instead of using my shortboard). What should the dimensions be? A tri-fin fish.
I am 150 lbs, and 5'8.

Is this one good for example?

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/spo/3916568978.html

Thanks,
Aaron

[IB_Surfer]

Well, at 150lbs you could buy just about any fish, they will float and be way easier to catch waves than any shortboard. I'd say go with 6'2 x 2 1/2 x 20 or there abouts, thicker and wider if you want it WAY easier to paddle and catch waves. You could go narrower or thinner, but you would end up almost at the same size as your shortboard.

[arod222]

Thanks, well i found this one and it looks good:

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/spo/3942594608.html

[Lebowski]

If you can't pop up with your feet in the right position, why do you think you are ready to change boards? A different board isn't going to change that, it's just going to be a waste of money. A lot of beginners (assuming you are one) seem to think that as soon as they can consistently pop up on a board, that board is suddenly holding them back and they need to get another smaller one.

[arod222]

Because i can stand on my longboard just not my shortboard. I have surfed with this one probably 10 times catching at least a hundred waves.

[jaffa1949]

Please go right ahead and choose whatever you think you want!
There is a bucket load of really good advice from a lot of knowledgeable people about surfing that would really help you.
Are you this knowledgeable because you can stand on your longboard?
Most of the advisors got their knowledge through experiencing all levels of surfing over many years.
Have a read, then make your own decision.

[arod222]

No need to be sassy or take offense to anything i said...

Also i can stand with my feet in the right position. I just cant get my feet up with the short board cause its too wobbly.. Thats why i am looking for a more stable board like the fish. While these guys have much more experience than me, they dont know my situation

[drowningbitbybit]

Thats why i am looking for a more stable board like the fish.

Fish aren't more stable than shortboards. A fish is designed to be loose for surfing on small waves, but to a beginner 'loose' is the same as 'wobbly'.

Sure, if you compare a 6'6 x 22 x 3 'superfish' to a 6'2 x 19 x 2 shortboard, the fishy board will be more stable, but volume for volume, fish are no more stable than a shortboard.

[pandarturo]

Distress are so much easier to paddle into waves though, like it's pretty much cheating lol. They usually have a low entry rocker and no tail rocker. That also could mean pearling. I suggest go fur a funboard if you're still shaky. Our maybe even an egg, which is like a mini shortboard.

[surf patrol]

If your determined to get a fish, get something really fishy, meaning really wide and thick. Get a retro fish. There are a lot of shapers out there that are making shortboards disguised as fishes, and that link you posted seems to be that. Find a retro fish, that super fishy. At this point in your surfing, width and thickness are your friend. Get one around the same length as you are tall, maybe an inch or two taller.

The board in the video below is very fishy, as an example:

[jaffa1949]

No need to be sassy or take offense to anything i said...

Also i can stand with my feet in the right position. I just cant get my feet up with the short board cause its too wobbly.. That's why i am looking for a more stable board like the fish. While these guys have much more experience than me, they dont know my situation

It's true we don't know your situation but we know what you would like to do. Is it special or any different from any other learner?
My real advise to you is get out on the ocean more and see what fits your needs. Why not go down to a surf school or a surf shop a borrow or hire what you think might do the job for you.
We get so many guys on here arguing for their limitations and the suggestions given are all pretty good.

Fish are not stable they are designed to be hyper responsive in messy surf
Once more , length, max 8ft ideal 7ft to 7ft 6inches if you plan to learn short, width and thickness (in the board)! Epoxy will give you a little more float!
get your skills up and you will see what you are being offered is correct!

[IB_Surfer]

To explain better, a fish is usually bought 5 to 6 inches shorter. When you do this, the fish is no easier to ride than a shortboard and due to the flatter rocker and wider outline it catches smaller waves easier, even though it is much shorter than a shortboard.

However, and this is not the intended purpose, if you buy a thick wide fish the same length as your shortboard, you are not buying it for it's intended use but you get a board that is way easier and more stable because of the extra voume. And it would not have to be specifically a fish, just a wider thicker flatter board.

So, is a fish intended for a begginer? No. Does it work for a begginer? The big ones do, although not the intended purpose.

Besides, every tome someone wants advice on a fish they are already intending to buy one, regardless of what we say LOL, so I try to give them the best advise as to what to buy

[drowningbitbybit]

Good explanation of what a fish is for, and the fundamental misconception about them that almost every "enthusiastic" learner makes.

[Surfing22]

I know exactly what you are going through. I went from longboard (which I could pop up easily) to a fish (which I had trouble popping up on.) Some things to consider is its easier to pop up on a longboard because you can catch the waves earlier. I surfed a longboard for a year, and a fish for a year, and I am now perfecting my popup on the longboard again. I would suggest sticking to the longboard and perfecting your pop up. Jaffa gave me great advice saying work on the pop up and catching the waves and the rest will come nautraully. Its your choice though just thought I would give you some things to think about.

[flo_dhbomb]

Thanks guys for some great information on fishes. I have been wondering this for a while in terms of whether I should try a fish some time to see what a shorter board is like. It's important to know what a board is designed for and what it's not. I have surfed ~ 8'6" boards for a years and am happy with that size. I can catch lots of waves and the only thing holding me back is my skills. I've heard that the only reason to go shorter is if your turning skills exceed the ability of your board to turn quickly, not that a shorter board will improve your turning skills. There is so much to learn in surfing why make everything about it hard. Stick to a board that lets you maximize your waves. Sure wish I could duck dive though. Sometimes being a turtle is tiring !!

[drowningbitbybit]

the only thing holding me back is my skills

Ooh, you don't hear that very often well done that surfer