What is the best time to surf?

Finding time to surf isn’t always easy, and many people have no choice but to take what they can get in terms of a window during which they can get out there. Having a little flexibility can certainly help you to enjoy the best conditions offered up on any given day, but there are certain times which can be identified as often providing the best surf.

More often than not, this is in the morning, with the primary reason for this being the wind. This is not always the case and can vary depending on your location, the season and the conditions on the day, but very commonly there is significantly more wind later in the day compared to in the morning. In most places around the world this phenomenon occurs with the most regularity in the spring and summer months. 

In simple terms, this occurs because the heat from the sun warms up the air above the land more rapidly than the air above the water. This in turn causes low pressure on land and high pressure over water, and the wind which subsequently blows from the high pressure system towards the low pressure system is the sea breeze which cools you down – and messes up your waves!

Of course, the wind isn’t the only element at play. Strong onshore winds can ruin a good day’s surf, but light winds don’t necessarily equal good surf. There are also things like swell, tide and the weather itself which influence the quality of surf, and these don’t always line up in the morning.

For example, while the morning is more often than not the best time to surf, some days you might have a swell which builds throughout the course of the day. Theoretically you can have relatively flat conditions in the morning and much more sizeable waves later on in the day, meaning if the wind stays away you’ll be better off surfing in the afternoon. Unfortunately in this scenario, if the wind doesn’t stay away it can create a frustrating situation whereby weather conditions are perfect in the morning but there are no waves, while in the afternoon there is plenty of swell but sub-optimal weather conditions. 

Another thing which needs to be factored in – for some people much more than for others – is the reality that plenty of people struggle to find the motivation to haul themselves out of bed in the morning to go for a surf when conditions might be better, particularly if they live somewhere that isn’t overly warm. Plenty of people would prefer to go out in the afternoon, when the sun is at its highest and they’ve had a few coffees – this is great if the conditions allow it, but as mentioned oftentimes you’ll need to be willing to head out in the morning to make the most of the day’s conditions. 

It is also worth noting – as anyone who has surfed early in the morning can attest to – that getting out of bed and going for a surf first thing is a great way to start the day. It might not be easy as you’re hauling yourself out of bed or stepping into cold water with sleep still in your eyes, but once you get into the session it’s a great feeling to be out in the water early in the day.

However, again depending on your location, it’s not a guarantee that conditions will deteriorate as the day goes on every day. Where I live, for example, on warmer days we often get northerly winds throughout the entirety of the day, which is offshore at most spots. On these days the afternoons are idyllic, with the sun high in the sky and conditions still perfectly clean.  

Another thing worth noting, which some are concerned by and others will tell you is a non-issue, is the potential for the presence of big fish at certain times of the day. Sharks tend to get a little more active at both dawn and dusk as compared to the middle of the day, so if you live somewhere with a lot of men in grey suits this might be worth considering. Of course the risks are still very low and plenty of surfers are out in the water at the crack of dawn or as the sun is setting very regularly without incident, but it is something that worries some people and it’s probably worth at least making sure there are a couple of others out there with you if you’re surfing at this time.

Having said that, these blue hours can be some of the most picturesque and enjoyable to surf if conditions suit, so for that reason it’s often relatively easy to find a break with a few people around at these times. 

So, in summary: surfing can be enjoyed all day long pending conditions, but more often than not you’ll find that the first few hours of sunlight will offer you the best chance of getting quality waves. This isn’t necessarily what some people want to hear, particularly those who struggle to get going in the morning, but getting out into the ocean early can be a great way to start your day. If you’re really not a morning person though, there’s no need to panic – depending on where you live there will still likely be plenty of opportunities to surf later in the day. You just might have a few less of them than you would if you were willing to go out earlier and may often be dealing with sub-optimal wind conditions.