Alabama Point Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
SE
Wind
N
Surf Height
Knee-high to overhead.
Tide
If you catch a swell in Alabama, surf it into the ground. Tide be damned.
Alabama Point Surf Guide
With only about 50 miles of swell exposure and shallow sand flats hampering swell production — Alabama beachbreaks are abominably fickle and require a significant amount of local S-SE windswell or, more ideally, a strong tropical system to produce rideable waves. With its breakwater/seawall setup and assortment of jetties/groins, Alabama Point at Orange Beach often makes the most sense of any available energy from the Gulf, capable of holding up to six-foot faces during bigger SE swells, making it one of the best options on the Alabama mainland.
Ability Level
All Abilities
Everybody until the rarest of hurricane swells produces spitting barrels, which draws rippers out of the woodwork.
Local Vibe
Welcoming
Alabamians are perhaps the friendliest surfers in the country. Both of them.
Crowd Factor
Mellow
A big, moody swell might summon the odd ripper from the Panhandle, but there’s always more than enough to go around.
Spot Rating
Poor
Manmade structures make this one of Alabama’s most dependable surf zones. But it’s still Alabama.
Shoulder Burn
Light
It’s shallow, there’s structures — piece of cake.
Water Quality
Dirty
Silt from the Mississippi and a history of oil spills is the reality in the Gulf of Mexico. Historically failed to meet water quality standards, less than 60% of the time.
Hazards
Sharks, jellyfish, pollution.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Fish, Funboard, Longboard
Access
Free parking.
Bottom
Sand.
Best Season
September-March
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