Is it better to surf on high tide or low tide? When are the waves normally larger?

Question

Is it better to surf on high tide or low tide? When are the waves normally larger?

Answer 1

All depends on the break.  Normally the best time to surf is during low tide as the waves don't break right on the shoreline.  I have never been to a break where its better during hightide than lowtide.

Answer 2

it depends on the beach but often waves are better when the tide is on its way in.

Answer 3

low.. high tide usually means beach break.

Answer 4

It really depends on location and conditions.  On sand beaches like the south shore of Long Island where you usually surf on a sand bar, low tide usually provides a better break.  If the waves are larger, the break might be better at a higher tide when there is more water over the sand bar.  If the waves are small, at high tide you end up with a beach break that is no fun.

In any event, it is not so much that the waves are larger or smaller on a different tide, but how they are breaking at a particular location that makes the surfing better.

Answer 5

its way better as the tide is coming in

Answer 6

Depends on the break but I prefer low tide as the waves break farther out