A. Although every beach in the city is open for surfing when the lifeguards are not on duty ( before 10 AM and after 5 or 5:30 PM), the designated and guarded all day surfing beaches are 7th Street and Waverly Beach (in the north end). These beaches are guarded by lifeguards who keep out the swimmers and are on watch for problems. Other beaches in the south end of the island are also open for surfing, but are not guarded or regulated. These include 16th Street, 37th Street and several beaches near the old 59th Street fishing pier.
Although on any given day and swell, any beach can be good, several beaches have developed a reputation for consistant good breaks. 8th Street is one of the best on a big north swell. 3rd and 5th are the best on northeast wind swells, because the large jetties block both the drift and the chop. The north end ( 1st street through Seaspray) is usually lined up better on smaller to mid size waves. This area is also a longboard haven. The south end (from about 20th Street to 59th Street) usually is an outside sandbar break, and changes dramatically with the tides. It is often good, uncrowded, and overlooked.