Does Wave Height Affect Surf Fishing at the Beach?

A surprisingly common question that I receive from many new anglers is the following: “Does wave height affect fishing in the surf?”. I think there’s a very simple way of thinking through this question, but to credit those anglers who have pondered it, I also think there’s a more sophisticated and less clear way of thinking through this question.

The Quick and Easy Answer

Yes, wave height does affect surf fishing. Does it affect the bite? Yes, you’ll likely catch fewer fish in higher surf. Plain and simple, the average angler (and even the most sophisticated of anglers) will have an easier time controlling their line, keeping track of their baits and keeping proper tension or a proper retrieve among other things. By fishing in more desirable conditions like low surf, minimal current, smooth surf, low wind, etc., the angler thus, has more control, confidence, and familiarity with what he/she is doing.

Additionally, your bait will likely be more visible with cleaner conditions and it won’t be moving around too fast or too sporadically. But, this train of thought brings us to the second way of thinking through the question at hand. A better way to frame the question in this respect would be: “Does wave height affect the feeding tendencies of fish in the surf?”.

Does Wave Height Affect the Feeding Tendencies of Fish in the Surf?

This is a terrific question. To be perfectly honest, it’s one that I don’t have a clear, definitive answer to. But, given what I’ve experienced, I can walk you through my thought process. In attempting to think through this question, two factors come to mind. 1.) Is the surf choppy too? 2.) Is the current overwhelmingly strong?

Keep in mind that as I walk through my thoughts that these are exactly that – my own thoughts and opinions. Other anglers may have completely different and possibly valid reasons against what I think.

The questions that I just labeled above have one common factor in mind. That common factor is the notion of whether the surf (being where the fish typically feed) is simply to rough and turbulent for fish to feed or to even hang out. Ocean fish are typically quite strong swimmers, but certain fish do prefer mellower conditions (whether feeding or not). Let’s walk through each factor one at a time.

Do Waves Affect Surf Fishing?

Many of the fish in the surf feed inside the breakers and even as shallow as a few inches. What I’ve noticed with high surf is that if the waves are high, but the sets are very clean with relatively longer wave periods, the bite can be just as good as a low surf day. This is also assuming we’re not fishing a shore-break but rather, a slow gradual break. If the waves are big, but clean with a very gradual break, the surf inside of the break remains clean and relatively calm.

I’ll give you a really good example of this in a video some of you may have already seen. If you click on the video below and start watching at 3:15, you’ll actually see spotfin croaker feeding in just inches of water. What you won’t realize without me telling you now, is that the surf that day was 4-5 feet. That’s about the highest I’ll ever fish through.

But, since the waves were clean, uniform, and had longer wave periods, the water within the breaks was mellow and easily calm enough for fish to feed in. If you watch long enough you’ll see multiple fish break the surface as well as my personal best spotfin make its way onto the sand.

If the waves were really choppy and there were more or faster sets, I don’t believe the conditions would allow as quality feeding conditions, let alone fishing conditions.

Does Current Affect Surf Fishing?

Current, in and of itself, certainly affects surf fishing. It can single-handedly ruin an outing. But, with high surf, any natural current that is already present will likely increase in strength. So, if the current becomes too strong for you to keep your bait in a naturally presented position for more than 30 seconds, you can assume the current is likely stronger than fish would desire to be hunting in, let alone hanging out in.

Summing It All Up

At the end of the day, we can’t be certain whether wave height affects the actual feeding tendencies of fish, but at least in my experience, I tend to catch more fish in lower surf. Not only that, but I find it more enjoyable when I can control my techniques better and not get soaked by huge waves. If I ever see projected surf of more than 4-5 feet, I become extremely hesitant of going out for a session. My desired conditions are 1 to 2-footers with minimal current, no seaweed, low wind, clean/clear water and a gorgeous day.

I hope this quick explanation of my thoughts helps for anyone who had pondered the idea before. Thanks for reading and be sure to subscribe to the mailing list below for a weekly update when my next post is published.