About Georgia Surf Travel
Let’s face it. You’re not going to Georgia on a surf trip. The state’s coast is way west of the continental shelf — in some cases, more than 60 miles — it doesn’t offer easy access to most beaches and those beaches that are accessible don’t promise much in the way of waves. In fact, on some days, a lake with a wakeboard is a far better option.
That said, the coast does get surf from time to time, and, in the event of a hurricane or strong nor’easter, it can pump just like anywhere else on the East Coast. Furthermore, the one thing Georgia does have going for it is a 6- to 10-foot difference between tides. Since the coast here is sort of tucked back west of the Carolinas and Florida, the tide pushes into the Georgia Bight with more force than anywhere south of Maine. With a tide pushing in, the surf can go from dead flat to lots of fun. However, this same push can create vicious rip currents if you’re surfing near a rivermouth — or sometimes, anywhere. Be very careful if you paddle across a channel to get to another island — such as Little Tybee and Tybee — and be particularly careful on full moons when the tides are the highest.
Though it’s only 100 miles long, the Georgia coast is more pristine and full of islands than any comparable stretch of shore in the country. Certain parts are not only beautiful, but they are positively primeval, and will make you realize that the modern world isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It is precisely the inaccessibility, beauty, wilderness and potential to get good surf occasionally — particularly during hurricane season — that can make a trip here worthwhile. At least you’ll get to see what much of the East Coast was like before humans crapped it up with beachwear shops, golf courses, high-rise hotels and condos, recounting a time when we actually explored places to find the answers to where we were going, instead of looking it up on a computer.
The best way to explore and appreciate Georgia’s vast shoreline wilderness is to take a kayak or a Hobie Cat down the coast. Most of the undeveloped islands have limited facilities, so a cabin sailboat remains the best option, allowing you the time to explore each island and cruise along the chain. With that in mind, we’re leaving a few secrets out of this travel guide for you to discover.
Georgia Surf Crowds:
What, are you kidding? This is Georgia. Actually, you will find crowds at a couple of lineups, notably at 5th Street in St. Simons and at various spots around Tybee. Tybee’s pier actually has a crew of talented rippers, and, on a hurricane swell, the rest of the island can attract every Bubba with a surfboard from Atlanta to Statesboro. Good thing is, most of them can’t surf. Elsewhere along the coast, you may actually find yourself longing for someone to surf with — especially when you start to be dragged out to sea by an outgoing 10-foot tide, or see a nearby splash or fin pop up in the very alive Peach State waters.
Georgia Surf Hazards:
Sharks
There are loads of sharks along this coast. Fortunately, most are smaller black tips and sand sharks, but also found out here are thresher, mako, hammerhead and tiger sharks. Be especially aware around saltwater inlets (not freshwater rivers). Sharks hunt here, and your foot may look very appetizing in the murky water. Stay away from anything that even resembles a splashing school of fish. You also need to be aware of bluefish, a predatory game fish that hunts among mullet. Bluefish have attacked swimmers in South Carolina, but similar incidents are rare in Georgia — probably because there are so few swimmers.
Rays and Skates
Skates, stingrays and even huge manta rays frequent this coast. All boast poisonous barbs on their tails, which they use for defense. Skates bury themselves in the sand and feed on the bottom. Shuffle your feet in unfamiliar waters.
Jellyfish
Peak season for stinging jellyfish along this coast happens to be August, when hurricane season usually starts kicking in. Strong swells and wind can push hapless jellyfish into shore, so even if you don’t see the one that stung you, random tentacles may be floating around and sting you just the same. Bring Sting-eze or something similar, and beware.
During the spring, there are often millions of harmless, but big, cannonball jellyfish. They look like a cross between a clear cannonball and a head of cabbage. Man-o-wars are rarely a threat here. The only time to worry is if the wind has been blowing along an east to southeasterly fetch from the southern Gulf Stream.
Sun/Heat
Damn hot summers mean sunburn, heat exhaustion and other misery. Bring a good hat and strong sunscreen. Don’t forget your rash guard. On the outer islands, you may have to bring all your own supplies.
Afternoon Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms remain a threat during the hot, still days of summer, and during autumn, when the first cold fronts of the season move south. If gray/black clouds start looming inland, it’s a fair bet that they will soon be over the coast. Storms often form on days that have the strongest southerly winds and windswell, and, when they push out over water, the winds sometimes switch offshore, which makes it difficult to leave the water. Nevertheless, do not surf during a thunderstorm; in fact, immediately seek some sort of shelter. Your author was once surfing during a storm and immediately took cover under a pier. A minute later, a bolt of lightning hit about exactly where he was surfing. Be careful.
Alligators
Alligators usually remain in the marshes, but can be found occasionally on the beaches — especially on Georgia’s barrier islands. Sometimes, you’ll see a set of tracks leaving the ocean and ambling up the beach. Don’t be fooled by an alligator sitting frozen nearby — they can sprint 30 mph if they need to, and you cannot run nearly that fast.
Pollution
The Georgia coast is largely unpolluted — even after rains. After a particularly heavy storm or hurricane, it may be advisable to stay out of the water in places such as Tybee or St. Simons, but, otherwise, all that wilderness and lack of pavement somehow has the effect of reducing waterborne pollutants — go figure.
Best Surf Seasons in Georgia:
Summer
One word about the summer in Georgia: HOT. Highs average in the mid- to upper 80s through July, and will regularly top out in the low 90s in August. On a very hot, high-pressure summer day with little wind, temperatures along the coast may push more than 100 degrees. Water temps generally start in the upper 70s at the beginning of summer and rise to the mid-80s by late August. This heated water fuels summertime Atlantic hurricanes, giving them the most juice from August through September.
With the exception of hurricanes, summer offers the least potential for surf. High pressure settles in off of Bermuda and tends to knock down any surf-producing weather; however, when the high gets particularly strong, and mid-afternoon heating sets in, a clockwise fetch of southeasterly wind will build along the coast, and this can kick up a little windswell. Sometimes this windswell can pack a good deal of juice, particularly on an incoming tide. Prevailing wind at this time of year is southeast from 5 to 15 mph, but, occasionally, a front will bring strong northeasterlies for a day or so.
Typically, mornings are glassy in Georgia, with summertime onshores beginning around 10 or 11 a.m. But, if the center of that summertime high moves back onshore from Bermuda, it will stay glassy — and flat — all day.
The first sign of tropical weather systems usually comes around mid-July. Afterwards, expect tropical storms and weather systems all the way through November. An average of three to six storms per year can be counted on for surf — more in a La Nina year, less in an El Nino. Keep an eye on The Weather Channel or the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane surf will start to hit exposed parts of the Georgia coast when a storm clears the Bahamas and is heading north. Since the shore is a little more set back, swell will sometimes hit earliest on south-facing parts of North Carolina before filling into the Georgia Bight. During a strong nearby storm, waves up to 10 feet plus are possible, but surf in the 4- to 6-foot range is more likely.
Two factors determine the surf you’ll get from a tropical disturbance: how rapidly the storm is moving to the north and how powerful the storm is. Unless the storm is Category 4 or better, the swell will diminish quickly once it moves north of the coast. Occasionally, storms will stall out or retrograde off of Hatteras. In that case, the surf may hang out for a few days. If you take your chances with a very strong storm, and it moves to within a couple of hundred miles, you can get the best conditions of all: hard offshores and gaping tubes. If you’re on a Georgia barrier island, bring a weather radio, because conditions change very rapidly and you don’t want to be stranded when the big one plows through.
Fall
Fall temperatures in Georgia average in the low 80s early on, to the mid-60s late in the season. Water temperatures usually stay comfortable — into the lower 70s until early to mid-October. Once the first few fronts drop south of the Georgia coast, water temperatures will fall rapidly through the 60s.
Autumn surf comes from hurricanes and from nor’easter weather systems. Nor’easters are powerful, rapidly moving lows that typically form off the coast of Northern Florida, Georgia or the Carolinas. They gain energy over the ocean and spin up the coast, blowing strong 20- to 40-knot winds in a northeasterly direction. Nor’easters will usually send stormy surf southward, occasionally leaving solid groundswell in their wake. Nevertheless, along the Georgia coast, it takes a pretty strong low for the groundswell to overcome the continental shelf.
Winter
Winter weather in Georgia is highly variable. Average temperatures are around 65 degrees, but can drop into the 30s and below on strong fronts. Water temps will drop into the low 50s, or less, if it gets very cold. Fullsuit, booties, gloves and even a hood may be necessary. Fortunately, in the heart of the winter, high pressures are usually followed by strong lows, increasing the possibility for cold northeasterly surf.
Spring
The spring can see good surf from passing fronts and late-season nor’easters. Air temps range from the 50s to the mid-70s, and the bug count is low. Water temps will warm through the 60s into the low 70s by late spring. This is the best time to visit the islands to avoid bugs, snakes and gators.