Can you surf in Pensacola? - Project Sports
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Can you surf in Pensacola?

7 min read

Asked by: Sophia Lopez

Pensacola’s major homegrown surf and skate shops — Innerlight Surf & Skate and Waterboyz — each offer weekly surf camps throughout the summer. And while Pensacola might not be seen by many as a hot surf spot, locals know Pensacola Beach offers some of the best surf on the Gulf Coast.

Does Pensacola Beach have waves?

Pensacola beach in Florida is an exposed beach break that has quite consistent surf. Winter is the optimum time of year for surfing here. Offshore winds blow from the north. Usually gets local windswells, but groundswells do happen and the ideal wave direction is from the southeast.

What is the surf like at Pensacola Beach?

Current Surf Report for The Cross (Pensacola Beach) Current Conditions

Low 1:01AM 0.72ft
High 8:01AM 1.15ft
Low 3:33PM 0.36ft


Can you surf in Florida Gulf Coast?

Florida’s Gulf coast doesn’t offer the surf of the state’s Atlantic coast, but all winter, you’ll find surfers lined up at the best breaks from St. Petersburg to Venice Inlet and all across the northwest.

Is there any good surfing in Florida?

The 10 best surfing spots in Florida

  • Cocoa Beach. Just east of Orlando is Cocoa Beach, the birthplace of the famous Ron Jon Surf Shop and 11-time World Surf League #1 pro, Kelly Slater. …
  • South Beach. …
  • New Smyrna Beach Inlet. …
  • Ponce Inlet. …
  • Jacksonville. …
  • Pensacola Beach. …
  • Sebastian Inlet. …
  • Reef Road.

Is Pensacola Beach water clear?

Both Destin and Pensacola (and all of the Emerald Coast towns) feature the same gorgeous clear blue-green waters and silky-white sand.

Is Pensacola Beach Safe?

Pensacola is not the safest city in this region. If you do not follow the precautions, you can get into trouble. It is not recommended walking around the city late at night, also avoid being on the beaches in the dark.

How high are the waves in Pensacola today?

Rest Of Tonight



Seas Around 2 Feet. Dominant Wave Period 3 Seconds.

What is the water temperature at Pensacola Beach?

Today’s Pensacola beach sea temperature is 78 °F.

What’s biting in Pensacola?

Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish finally are starting to show up in Pensacola Bay, and of course you can still find plenty of them out in the Gulf along the beaches. The red snapper bite in Pensacola Bay has been pretty tough, but if you put some effort into it, you should be able to pick up a few keepers.

Is Destin beach good for surfing?

Visitors learning how to surf will be stoked by Destin-Fort Walton Beach. The conditions are ideal, with clear water to see what’s below, soft sand for easy landings, and consistently perfect waves for beginners to catch.

Why are there no waves in Florida?

Generally, you can’t surf in the Florida Keys due to coral reefs, marine geography, and the resulting lack of waves. The Florida Keys are protected by the Great Florida Reef, which is the third largest barrier reef in the world. It runs southward, just offshore of Florida’s coast, from Miami to the Dry Tortugas.

Is the Gulf of Mexico good for surfing?

When most people think of the Gulf of Mexico, surfing probably never crosses their mind. However, the gulf is more than capable of producing quality surf. The gulf waves are influenced by tropical weather, such as hurricanes and cold fronts, often producing much higher quality surf that most would expect.

How high are the waves in Pensacola today?

Rest Of Tonight



Seas Around 2 Feet. Dominant Wave Period 3 Seconds.

Are there alligators in Pensacola?

The American Alligator is the crocodilian that can be found in this part of Florida, but it is VERY rare to encounter one on Pensacola Beach. Though these animals can tolerate brackish conditions, they prefer freshwater habitats – so it is the freshwater ponds on the island where they are occasionally found.

How is the water in Pensacola Beach today?

Today’s Pensacola Beach Pier sea temperature is 78 °F.

What’s biting in Pensacola?

Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish finally are starting to show up in Pensacola Bay, and of course you can still find plenty of them out in the Gulf along the beaches. The red snapper bite in Pensacola Bay has been pretty tough, but if you put some effort into it, you should be able to pick up a few keepers.

Can you surf fish on Pensacola Beach?

Pensacola Surf Fishing Spots



If you are wondering where to go surf fishing and which fish to catch in Pensacola, you have a number of options. Species like pompano, flounder, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, spotted seatrout, and red drum are often caught while fishing from the beach.

Is Pensacola Bay saltwater?

Estuaries like Pensacola Bay, where saltwater from the sea and freshwater from rivers and uplands mix, are nurseries for young fish, shrimp, and crabs.

How deep is the water in Pensacola Bay?

Pensacola Bay lies 110 miles WNW of Cape San Blas and 125 miles NE of South Pass, Mississippi River. The bay, about 12.5 miles in length, has depths of 20 to 50 feet, and affords excellent shelter and anchorage; it is frequently used as a harbor of refuge.

Are there alot of sharks in Pensacola?

Since the time the Spanish settled Florida, reported shark attack comes out to two a year with a sharp increase starting in the 1970’s. Broken down further, there are seven reported attacks from Pensacola Beach since Spanish explorer Tristan de Luna landed here in 1559 – that’s right 7.

Which beach has the clearest water in Florida?

Destin. Destin is commonly referred to as the Florida beach with the clearest water. Why this beach in particular? It’s because of the Choctawhatchee Bay just beyond the beach that acts as a filtration, taking in the darker sediment and leaving clear waters atop Destin’s fine quartz sand.

Can you catch red snapper in Pensacola Bay?

Because of the unusually deep waters of Pensacola Bay, in some places exceeding 50 feet in depth, Red Snapper also have been caught in Pensacola Bay. However, the best all around fishing for snapper is bottom fishing offshore with an experienced fishing guide like Captain Brandy.

How do you get grouper in Pensacola Bay?

The public reefs and bottom just off of Pensacola in 40 to 150 feet offer anglers a good opportunity to harvest these fish. Snapper and grouper can be targeted using both dead and live bait. Some of the preferred baits include menhaden, cigar minnows, hardtails and dead Boston mackerel.

How do you catch red snapper?


By lifting your rod tip up slowly to the sky. And setting that lead back down the bottom and the tide is going to straighten out that leader for you.

What’s the best bait for snapper?

Snapper of all sizes, including huge 20 or even 30-pound fish are commonly caught on dead bait. Squid, pogies, and cigar minnows are always reliable and readily available.

What is best bait for Red Snapper?

Pogies, squid, and cigar minnows are readily available and frequently used Red Snapper bait. For larger fish in general, live Pinfish and Tomtate ( a.k.a. Ruby Red Lips) also work well. Many experienced Gulf Coast anglers swear that Bonita strips make the best bait for Red Snappers.

Can you catch snapper off the beach?

The vast majority of landbased anglers rarely catch snapper, and rarely specifically target them from the shore. Don’t let this rarity deter you because snapper can be caught of rocks, you just need to be quite specific in how you go about it.

What tide is best for beach fishing?

Simply put, high tide is the best tide for surf fishing because it allows you to fish the deep waters where fish are more comfortable to feed. So before your next surf fishing trip, try to recognize the tides in your area, and plan your journey around high tide hours.

What tide is best for snapper?

Key bite periods for snapper will often coincide with the two hours before and after high and low tide however it’s worth fishing the entire cycle to get a feel for what will work best for the snapper in your particular waterway.