Amazons
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Chop, Small waves
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Amazons is a low-profile beach/jetty break at the east end of Panama City Beach, inside/adjacent to St. Andrews State Park. It is known for peeling left-hand waves that form as swell interacts with the jetty and shifting sandbars, producing different inside and outside options depending on the sand alignment. The spot can be very hazardous despite workable surf, with notable jetty rocks and frequent shark activity. Currents can be strong near the pass, and rip currents are a key risk factor, so surf sessions require close attention and conservative decision-making—especially when conditions are messy or when boat traffic is active. For surfing, the break is most associated with east to southeast swell, and north or northeast wind is generally better for clean/offshore conditions on the lefts. Low tide is commonly preferred, and rideable faces can be long when the jetty and sandbars line up, though overall wave quality is reported as average and can vary. In addition to surfing, the spot area has potential for kitesurfing during frontal passages and is also usable for windsurfing and wingfoiling, with intermediate skill levels suggested. However, shallow sandbars near the jetty and the rock hazards mean foilers should be especially cautious about clearance and launch/takeoff routes.
- Left-hand waves peeling off the jetty on east/southeast swell
- Shifting sandbars create inside/outside options
- Often sees relatively few surfers even when it’s working
- Well-known left-hand jetty break on east/southeast swells
- Works with changing sandbar positions to create inside/outside options
- State-park access with facilities and established local knowledge
- Sharks and jetty/rock hazards
- Strong currents/rip current risk near the pass/jetty area
- Sandbars can shift, affecting consistency
- Boat traffic around the shipping channel
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NE, NW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Frontal winds in the cooler season, with lighter thermal sea-breeze influence in warmer months.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gustiness reported.
- Best Months
- January, February, March, September, October, November, December
- Shadow Zones
- Directly behind the jetty on east winds.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach with shifting sandbars around the jetty area.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Small on average; can build significantly with the right southeast swell.
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — Chop reported as the water/wind-driven condition.
- Launch
- Medium — Beach access at the east end of Panama City Beach; also described as sandy beach area west of the jetty.
Through the year
Can be crowded on weekends and during rare good swell events.
Hurricane season from June to November often brings the best swells.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Suitable for wave riding on the Gulf side during frontal passages; the nearby lagoon inside the park is more popular for flatter water.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Possible wave sailing on the Gulf side, though rarely frequented compared to other nearby options.
- Sail Sizes
- 5–7 m²
Accessible from the beach; foil users should be wary of shallow sandbars and jetty rocks.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly, with depth caution.
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Beach/jetty break with inside and outside spots over shifting sandbars; can get big on southeast swells and produce long workable faces when the jetty/sandbar alignment is right.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- E, SE, ESE
- Swell Height
- 1–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low — Low tide preferred.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Break is influenced by the jetty; generally not fully sheltered and can be fairly exposed depending on swell/wind.
- Wind Effect
- North winds tend to give cleaner/offshore conditions for the lefts.
- Bigger Swell
- Can hold size up to a few feet overhead before closing out or becoming too messy.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Average wave quality overall, with improvements when sandbar/jetty conditions align.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate overall power; can get big on certain swell patterns.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Left-hand waves peeling off the jetty during solid swells; sandbar alignment affects shape.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peeling waves with a workable section on solid swells.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Long, workable faces possible when sandbars and jetty are aligned.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Waves can offer long, workable faces when the sandbars and jetty are aligned.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Amazons in the full forecast view.
Amazons wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 7–14 ktsGusts 23 kts
- Direction
- NE45°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2514 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.2–0.5 m3s period
- Temperature
- 12–27 °C
Over the next 7 days, Amazons is forecast for daytime winds of 7–14 kts, peaking around 14 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 23 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 0.2–0.5 m with a period of about 3s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks near jetty structure
- Jetty rocks
- Sharks
- Rip currents
- Boat traffic
- Strong currents near the pass
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard presence reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No specific rescue availability reported for the spot. (Broader regional emergency services exist.)
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospital is in the Panama City Beach area.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Mild localism reported; overall crowd is relatively low even on good days.
Rules of the spot
Stay aware of jetty rocks, rip currents near the pass/jetty area, and shark presence. Avoid designated swimming areas for surfing where applicable.
- Park hours and entry fees apply (state park access).
- No surfing in designated swimming areas (state park restrictions).
- Watch for shark activity near the pass.
- The walk to the break from parking can be long—bring a cart or plan accordingly.
- A cart or preparation for the walk is helpful due to the longer path from parking to the break.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Panama City Beach
- Nearest Town
- Panama City
- Parking
- Paved parking available within the state park.
- Access
- Accessible via the front beach road east until it dead-ends into St. Andrews Park; also accessible from the jetty-side parking areas within the state park.
- Cost Level
- Budget
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Direct — Camping available inside St. Andrews State Park; numerous hotels in Panama City Beach.
- Food & Drink
- Concessions available inside the park during peak season; many restaurants nearby in town.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental available through local shops in Panama City Beach.
- Gear Repair
- Gear repair available at local surf shops in town.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Amazons?
The best overall months at Amazons are May. The best wind months are January, February, March, September, October, November, December.
Which wind directions work at Amazons?
Amazons works with N, NE, NW winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Amazons?
Recommended equipment sizes at Amazons: Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5–7 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 10–20 kts.
What skill level is Amazons suitable for?
Amazons suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Intermediate.