Has anybody surfed the 5'8 or 6'2 9:fish before? if so how did they perform? and how did they catch waves?

Question

I'm buying either the 5'8 or 6'2 so i was wondering if anybody knows which one is better. I just need a board that has performance and great wave catching ability

Answer 1

I have surfed with a 6'6 fish, after many months I caught 1 wave! You have to get the board to match your height and weight - I was 180lbs and 6ft and this board didn't respond. So without putting down your dimensions noone can give you recommendations.

Answer 2

it sounds like your looking for an all-around board.  "a board that has performance and great wave catching ability."  for this, i would recommend the standard shortboard.  i know this seems like a silly thing to say, but it is the most ridden board for a reason.  it gets into waves easily, and it performs at an extremely high level.

in terms of a fish tho...im 5'11'' 180lbs and i shaped myself a 5'6'' twin fish.  its pretty high volume: wide and thick and really low rocker.  this means that it can generate a lot more speed than you would expect.  rocker is pretty important, and on a wave over 4 ft. i definitely need more rocker.  but a fish is typically more for smaller waves.  since it has barely any rocker, its like i cut off the top three feet of a fun board.  it surfs pretty different from a shortboard.  since its loose, you do a lot more turns, and the low entry rocker gives means that it doesn't bog in crappy sections like a shortboard tends to in ****.  also, since its short, and a twin fin its super loose and fun to turn.  this lets me really stay in the pocket.

it doesnt have too much paddle power tho.  even before being run into rocks, it was a bit light on the foam (biggest downside to the mini-fish design), and heavy on the glass (downside of being a mediocre board-maker).  because of how hard it is to paddle, and the general "wobbliness" of little boards/twin fins, i would say that it is not the best design for beginners.  it is sort of an intermediate-advanced surfer's surfboard.  all the same, i love the board, and certainly recommend adding a little fish to any quiver.

o, go out and borrow/rent one before you buy it.  if its like mine, small and high volume, know that it's probably for small crappy surf.  if you take it out on a perfect 5ft day, don't expect it to necessarily be as fun as your shortboard.

a shortboard will be a lot more stable, and if you don't know how to pocket surf yet, you'll have more luck maintaining speed on one.  good luck