Overview
The Spit sits by the Southport Seaway with sand-bottom beach peaks and a main left between the seaway jetty and the Spit Sand-pumping jetty. It gets plenty of swell and is less developed than much of this coast, with peaks stretching toward Main Beach.
Small days are usually slopey and manageable, which makes it popular with tourists and beginners. In stronger moderate swell it can get hollow, but once it gets beyond 6-8 ft faces it tends to close out, and the currents can ramp up quickly.
When It Works
The Spit is a consistent beachbreak with lefts and rights over sand. The usable swell window runs from northeast through east-southeast to south, with east as the optimal swell direction. It works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft.
The Spit is also known for handling northeast sea breezes better than other Gold Coast spots, while the sand moving around the jetties can provide the raw material for nice banks.
Wind and Tide
The offshore wind direction is west. Low, mid, and high tide can all be surfable, with a rising tide generally better.
Local Tips
This is a beginner-friendly spot, but it can still get busy. The northern jetty is the most accessible of the South Straddie breaks, and peaks there can become very crowded as surfers cross the channel.
Access
There is a big car park with paid parking, plus restrooms, showers, and lifeguards. The channel nearby has heavy boat traffic, and the source facts also flag shark traffic there.
