Main Beach / The Spit surf report
Open beach breaks up to the Seaway. Good banks and fewer people than the southern points. Locals call it The Spit.
Today at Main Beach / The Spit (Sat, 3 Oct) · best 5am–9am
Fun.
Glassy, no wind, chest-high waves. Rated for a beginner.
- Barely any wind (4 kn), so it'll be glassy and smooth.
- Waves around chest high (0.7m faces), a good size for a beginner.
- Easterly swell at 6 seconds, an angle this spot likes.
- Low tide and rising at 8am, but this spot prefers mid tide.
- Wind swings north-north-easterly 5 kn around 9am, so it'll get choppy.
Forecast checked Sat, 3 Oct, 2:55 am Gold Coast time.
When is Main Beach / The Spit good?
- Best wind
- Westerly (offshore) or none
- Best swell
- North-north-east to south-south-east
- Best tide
- Mid tide
- Suits
- Beginner+
Who it suits depends on the size: learners up to about 0.7m, beginners up to about 1.1m, intermediates up to about 1.6m. Bigger than 1.6m it is for advanced surfers. Long-period groundswell hits harder, so it counts as bigger.
It gets most of the open-ocean swell, so there is usually something to ride. A westerly wind blows offshore here, so mornings before the sea breeze are usually cleanest. Get Frothin’ checks the wind, swell, tide and the live wave buoys every hour and tells you, in plain English, whether it's worth paddling out at Main Beach / The Spit for your level.
Watch out
Rips and strong currents near the Seaway walls.
Surf schools at Main Beach / The Spit
Lessons mean more people in the water. The app flags when a school is out, so you know it'll be busy.
- Get Wet Surf School. Lessons usually start at 10am, 1pm.
Frequently asked
What are the best conditions for surfing Main Beach / The Spit?
Main Beach / The Spit is best with a westerly (offshore) wind or no wind, a north-north-east to south-south-east swell and mid tide. It gets most of the open-ocean swell, so there is usually something to ride.
What wind is offshore at Main Beach / The Spit?
A westerly wind (W) blows straight offshore at Main Beach / The Spit, holding the waves up and keeping them clean. Light winds are good too. Onshore winds make it choppy.
Is Main Beach / The Spit good for beginners?
It can be. Main Beach / The Spit suits beginners on small, clean days. On bigger days it is better left to more experienced surfers.
What should I watch out for at Main Beach / The Spit?
Rips and strong currents near the Seaway walls.
Are there surf lessons at Main Beach / The Spit?
Yes: Get Wet Surf School. Lesson times bring more people into the water, and Get Frothin’ shows when lessons are on, so you can plan around the busy times.
Nearby breaks
- Burleigh Heads 13.3 km
- Palm Beach 16.1 km
- Currumbin Alley 19.0 km