I'm always short on time, so I usually have a game plan, with a spot or two picked out for the conditions, and basically hit it and get out. However for yesterdays swell, I took more time than usual looking at a lot of spots, and I was surprised at just how different it was from one spot to the next; and I'm talking about spots that were very close to one another. The other thing I was surprised at was the crowds. Seemingly no rhyme or reason to them. I surfed a peak with 6 guys my first session that was decent. Tide was getting fat, but it was still fun, and 6 guys isn't bad. I got out and killed some time for dead high, and when I came back, same spot was packed,like 15 guys and many more suiting up. However only a stones throw away, I had an arguably better spot all to myself for over an hour before people woke up and started filtering in. And because I drove around checking spots, I knew there was even another break just a tad further away far that was much hollower than where I was, but less make-able and more crowded. It's easy to assume when you check the surf that everywhere is breaking similar because hell, after all it's all just beach break here in NJ right? However I've learned that often it's simply not the case. If my "go to" spots are working relatively well, and I'm having fun, I'll stay planted. However if they aren't very good, I'll definitely look around before bailing. I also like to take a day every so often, like yesterday, and poke around and check a bunch of spots, because sand shifts and spots change especially when the army corps of engineers are pumping and moving sand every which way which they have been and are doing. It's good to get an assessment and figure out what spots are breaking and how/when. I live a long way from the beach now which makes it tough, but some of my buds are still right on it, so I get to feed of their every day insight which helps. I guess the gist of my rambling is don't get complacent and just stick to the same spot no matter what. If it's fun, by all means keep on it; whats the saying a bird in the hand...., but if it's just meh, poke around every once in a while. If your the first one to figure out a dormant spot has just come back, you can really reap some benefits...... all alone.
I do see from time to time spots nearby working better or worse than a spot within a mile or so. But what I guess my point was that I could never see myself GET OUT of the water while it is pretty much firing to go elsewhere. I have seen many times a break look drastically better than the rest nearby, but once I'm in the water and having fun, I'm staying. I also assume some kids could be on winter break from school or guys having different schedules and have all day to drive around and surf. Some of us not the case
I'm always occupied with some nonsense,it would be nice if I had time to wait for a swell to peak with the right tides and winds.i get out when I get out,whether high tide,onshore offshore.etc..very rare I catch it perfect.and the worse part is when u see pics of the spot u just surfed 2 hours later and its pumping.been there way too many times. when I first started id drive an hour and a half down to lbi,barnegat,wherever I thought it was good and stay there all day.now I drive 10 minutes to the beach and go out regardless of conditions.by the time I check 3 spots,il only have 20 minutes to surf lol.oh well that's life
I totally agree with diving around from time to time. Pkovo nailed it. When i said nearby spots can't be that much better, i was talking about size. Ofcourse diffrent spots work better at diffrent tides....and therfore can be pretty diffrent. Knowing how diffrent spots work at diffrent tides is our duty as surfers. Or your doing it wrong. But these things change. If it's ehhh I'll drive around or after a sesh I'll drive around just to check in and keep tabs on how every place is working. Funny story. Last year there was this one spot that was pretty shallow. On high tide it'd be breaking no matter what and on mid/low tide is be really punchy and fun. No one knew about it. I surfed it with peajay a bunch. He knows the spot. I got so spoiled. Fun waves and only a handful of guys out. Then this summer, it got so deep. It wasn't that good. But everyone had heard it was good and started going there. Leaving the old super crowded spot less crowded, and better. Supposedly the spot started getting its mojo back towards the end of summer but i hadn't been there. I need to get back there to see how it's working
