St. George Island is a sandy beach break on Florida's Emerald Coast, named for the green tint of the water. The best surf is found anywhere along the beach roads, where the sand bottom serves up both rights and lefts. Skip the points at either end, though: they sit over shallow shoals and don't produce decent waves.
When It Works
The island draws swell from west-southwest through south-southeast, and it comes alive on a south swell. Waves run from waist-high to overhead and are usable from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 1.8 m / 6 ft. Spring, autumn, and winter are the seasons to watch, with hurricane swells adding to the mix. The paddle out is easy on smaller days but gets tougher once the swell picks up.
Wind and Tide
Look for a northwest offshore wind to clean things up, though there's a workable wind window running from west through north to north-northeast. It breaks on low and mid tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
Expect a quiet lineup with a reserved feel. This is an average spot overall, and no one is making the trip solely to surf here, but it suits a wide range of surfers. Beginners through experts can find something to work with, and it handles everything from a shortboard or fish to a funboard or longboard.
Access
Parking is simple: just pull over along the road. Watch your footing near the dunes, as falling off them is the main thing to be careful of.
