So Is A Fish Surfboard The Right Choice For You?

The fish surfboard was originally designed in the 1970’s and is considered to combine the best features of a longboard with those of a shortboard.  You will notice that fish surfboards are wider, shorter and thicker than the shortboard that you would normally select for your height, weight, and talent.

Due to the extra foam outline of these surfboards, they offer better flotation than a regular surfboard, making for easier paddling and catching of waves. And let’s face it, this is the ultimate goal of being in the water in the first place!

A fish surfboard is also a very visually different looking surfboard, due not only to its unique outline but also to the shape of its tail. Fish surfboards usually have a notch cut out of their tail in the shape of a large V, known as a swallow tail.  This swallow tail allows the surfboard to turn easier and also provides the surfboard with more lift.

Many fish surfboards also have a rounded nose which combined with a swallow tail give them a “fish-like” appearance.

Generally the bottom of a fish will be flat, that is without any concave or vee.  This flat bottom reduces resistance, or drag in the water, and makes for a faster ride.

To further reduce drag and make this type of surfboard even faster, shapers give these boards less overall rocker by reducing the amount of nose and tail rocker.

Most fish surfboards are from 5′5″ through to 7′ in length with the most common width being about 18.5 to 20″. The unique dimensions of this type of surfboard means that as a generalisation, your fish will probably be a few inches shorter than your regular shortboard.

You will find fish surfboards available in 2, 3, or 4 fin setups. Usually, a standard fish will come with a tri-fin (3 fins) setup providing you with a great alternative to your regular shortboard for those small days.

A quad fish surfboard setup on the other hand will provide the fastest version of a fish while a twin fin fish will be very cruisy over the flat sections of the wave but very skatey.

How Can You Benefit From A Fish Surfboard?

There are many reasons you may prefer to ride a fish over a regular shortboard.

Fish surfboards are great for catching smaller waves, which can be a benefit for the less experienced surfer only comfortable out there in the smaller stuff.  They have great flotation, much like a beginner’s foamie or softtop, but without the embarrassing markers that may label an inexperienced surfer as a novice.

Fish surfboards are also great in between surfboards and can provide a surfer who is not quite experienced enough for a regular shortboard with the fun of a shortboard.

Experienced surfers can also greatly benefit from riding a fish surfboard when the waves are small, sloppy or mushy.  This way you will get that extra bit of speed you need when the waves just aren’t giving you enough push.

Lastly if you are a heavier person who outweighs a shortboard, but wants to maneuver your surfboard like you would a regular shortboard. This type of surfboard will provide you with the extra stability you need.

Some Disadvantages To Riding Fish Surfboards

There are a few disadvantages to fish surfboards.  Some experienced surfers find that these types of surfboards tend to be quite loose and skatey causing them to slide across the face of the wave when you dig the tail in during sharp turns.

These surfboards also do not perform so well in bigger waves due to their low entry rocker and tail rocker.  You will find that when you are dropping into a large wave the nose of a fish surfboard is more likely to catch the face of the wave on take off.  This will send you bailing over the falls.  As a beginner to intermediate surfer you may not need to worry too much about this fact.

Many surfing coaches believe that fish surfboards are not the best choice for a total novice or beginner surfer, although some beg to differ on this issue.  They believe that a novice should start on a longboard or soft surfboard and work they way up to a shortboard before trying out a fish.

I personally agree with this but I do think that if a novice has mastered a longboard and intends to surf in small to medium sized waves, they can truly benefit from the increased speed and stability of a fish surfboard before moving up to big waves and a shortboard.

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