I'll be in the Fort Lauderdale area next week, and I'm planning on renting a longboard down there while I can and hopefully paddle out a few times. My question is what's the water temp been like? Should I plan to pack a wetsuit top, fullsuit, boots? Thanks guys, and if anyone can pass on some tips about surfing in the are it'd really help.
Good luck finding waves in Lauderdale. Go north to at least Riviera Beach or Palm Beach or even further north and your odds increase.
I'd say even further if you can...Jupiter has been looking steady from the reports of the last few weeks. I'd bring a 3/2 just in case. You won't need booties/gloves. The water should only be like in the low 60's, so you won't need booties/gloves, just maybe a 3/2 in case it's overcast or windy. I'm originally from Florida and I don't remember it being all that bad in January. I now live up here and would kill to have water that warm right now. haha Have fun.
I was in florida last week - patrick afb & indiatlantic area, water was still 70deg so depended on air temps - i trunked it with the air @ 82 there has been a cold snap there this week so may need a little something, but if you stay further south you will likely be fine in trunks and maybe a vest or jacket
I was just down in Lauderdale last month and SUPed for the first time ever. It was THAT flat. Based on this trip, and others to south Florida, if there is a decent swell with some north in it, (most winter swells will be out of the north) Lauderdale will still be a lake, 30 min north around Deerfield beach will be small lefthand lines and Lake Worth (45 min north) will be fun and ridable. Water temps will be above 70 south of Palm Beach, and just a top for chilly breeze will be fine. Picture i shot near Deerfield last March, not a ripple in Lauderdale this day...glad i drove 45 min north.
Where are some deerfield Beach surfspots? Is there any jettys or peirs etc? I live down in Miami. Not much to surf there. I go up to the Jetty at John Lloyd park sometimes but its Ft Laud so its not consistent at all.
I grew up surfing in Long Island and now live in Baltimore, which is almost 3 hours to the closest surf spots. Luckily, my parents moved to Vero Beach in 1999 and I have been surfing the stretch of coast from Fort Pierce Inlet to Melbourne and have had great luck there. This time of year is usually pretty surfable and you shouldn't have trouble finding a wave. I alays trunk it, but it can get chilly. My brother and his wife also live there and he will wear a 3/2 or wetsuit jacket this time of year. Your blood thins after you live down there a while. I like the inlets, but usually walk north to find a less crowded peak. Have fun.
