Blowhole (St. Augustine South)
- Freeride, Bodyboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Blowhole is a sand-bottom beach break near the south-jetty/inlet area of St. Augustine South, producing both left and right waves. Surf planning commonly emphasizes low tide, with wave quality reported as good when sandbars align and the peaks are formed. Wind direction is important: southwest winds are repeatedly described as the best setup for surfing because they can act offshore. Wind cleanliness and blown-out likelihood vary by month, with December showing a small percentage of clean conditions alongside generally small surf probabilities. Safety is a key focus at this spot. Hazards called out include submerged tree stumps and rocks/jetties near the inlet mouth, alongside strong tidal currents, rip currents, and risk from the inlet’s water movement. Crowd levels can also rise when waves are decent, so line management and situational awareness are important. Access involves a short trek from Anastasia State Recreation Park because vehicles are not allowed to drive on the sand. Limited rescue availability is noted, so it’s best to go prepared with appropriate leash/impact protection and to watch conditions closely around the change of the tide, when the best waves are often found.
- Sandbar beach break producing both directions
- Low tide + southwest offshore setup
- Shifting sandbars that can create strong peaks near the jetty on good swells
- Sandbar beach break with both left and right waves.
- Works best at low tide with southwest winds acting offshore.
- Good wave quality reported, with potential for hollow peaks near the jetty.
- Can get quite busy in the water during decent conditions.
- Hazards include submerged stumps and rocks/jetties near the inlet mouth.
- Currents near the jetty/inlet can pull toward the channel; water depth and sandbar alignment can vary.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SW
- Offshore directions
- SW, W, NW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Mixed — Thermal sea-breeze influence with frontal/trade influences in the wider St. Augustine Beach cluster; spot wind planning notes also emphasize southwest offshore conditions for surfing.
- Reliability
- Moderate (cluster), with spot-level cleanliness/blown-out percentages varying by month.
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Wind described with light gusts in the dataset that also notes typical 10–20 knots.
- Best Months
- December, January, September, October, November
- Shadow Zones
- Some turbulence immediately behind dunes or jetty structures.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small
- Launch
- Medium — Beach access with a wide sandy area described south of the jetty; also requires trek from Anastasia State Recreation Park access point.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Easy access but includes a short trek; vehicles cannot drive on sand.
Through the year
High on weekends and during summer holidays; manageable during weekdays.
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with the highest frequency of tropical activity usually in August and September.
By sport
What to expect for each.
While primarily a surf spot, the area can be used by kitesurfers south of the jetty in sideshore/side-onshore conditions; proximity to the inlet requires caution.
Possible for wingfoiling once past the break, but shifting sandbars and swell can make it challenging for beginners.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly noted once depth is sufficient.
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Beach break with sand bottom and shifting sandbar behavior near the south jetty area; both left and right directions noted. Works best around low tide (and particularly on the low-to-mid window described).
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- E, ESE, NE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low — Low tide is repeatedly indicated as the best window.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Semi-sheltered character in spot notes, with jetties/near-inlet shaping waves; another dataset describes exposed conditions overall.
- Wind Effect
- Works best with southwest winds that act offshore for the surfing setup; can be better when wind is offshore.
- Bigger Swell
- Can handle larger swells in one dataset, but another dataset notes it can get heavy and close out on very large swells.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Good wave quality reported; peaks can become hollow on better swells near the jetty.
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Slow — Spot notes include slow peeling as a common wave feel; another dataset describes medium peel speed.
- Ride Length
- Short — Quick rides under about 50 m are common; good days can extend to roughly 50–150 m in one dataset.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Quickies under ~50 m in one dataset; another dataset suggests typical ride length around 30–80 m and mentions hollow peaks near the jetty on a good swell.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Blowhole (St. Augustine South) in the full forecast view.
Blowhole (St. Augustine South) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 10–22 ktsGusts 34 kts
- Direction
- NNE33°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2522 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.7–3.4 m8s period
- Temperature
- 20–25 °C
Over the next 7 days, Blowhole (St. Augustine South) is forecast for daytime winds of 10–22 kts, peaking around 22 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 34 kts. The prevailing direction is NNE. Waves run 1.7–3.4 m with a period of about 8s. 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
- submerged tree stumps
- rocks
- jetties
- submerged rocks near the inlet mouth
- strong tidal currents and longshore drift
- rip currents
- sharks
- crowds
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal presence noted for the broader area; spot-level rescue availability is limited.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Limited on-spot rescue availability; local beach rescue services and the Coast Guard Auxiliary may support.
- Emergency Info
- Dial 911. Nearest facilities are in St. Augustine South and/or at the state park ranger station; rescue availability is limited.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Mild localism noted, including right-of-way awareness near jetty peaks.
Rules of the spot
No vehicle driving on sand; requires a short trek to access the waves. Be aware of local right-of-way near jetty/peaks and respect swimming-only zones during peak hours.
- Vehicles not allowed on sand access (vehicles no longer allowed on sand).
- Surfing prohibited in certain swimming-only zones within Anastasia State Park during peak hours.
- Expect thick crowds when waves are decent.
- Be aware of submerged tree stumps.
- Watch the currents near the jetty as they can pull you toward the inlet channel.
- The best waves are often found around the change of the tide.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- St. Augustine
- Nearest Town
- St. Augustine
- Parking
- Free 24/7 parking available at St. Augustine Pier; Anastasia State Recreation Park has parking but vehicles cannot drive on sand—walk the short distance to the spot.
- Access
- About 0.5 mile north of the beach-access ramp inside Anastasia State Recreation Park; short trek required (previously an inlet that filled in completely). Vehicles cannot drive on sand; St. Augustine Pier parking is a nearby alternative.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping within Anastasia State Park or various hotels and rentals along A1A.
- Food & Drink
- Local restaurants and cafes are located along the A1A corridor just outside the park entrance.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rentals available at local surf shops nearby.
- Gear Repair
- Local surf shops in St. Augustine offer board repairs.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A tourism-focused Atlantic-coast area centered around Anastasia Island and the fishing pier, with access to historic downtown attractions.
Historic lighthouse offering panoramic views of the Atlantic and the Matanzas River.
Beaches, dunes, tidal marshes, and hiking trails across more than 1,600 acres.
Historic fort in downtown St. Augustine.
Attraction featuring crocodilians and a zip-line course.
Popular beachfront dining with seafood and ocean views.
Community hub with a splash park and fishing access.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Blowhole (St. Augustine South)?
The best overall months at Blowhole (St. Augustine South) are December, January, September, October, November, March, April. The best wind months are December, January, September, October, November.
Which wind directions work at Blowhole (St. Augustine South)?
Blowhole (St. Augustine South) works with SW winds. Offshore directions are SW, W, NW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Blowhole (St. Augustine South)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Blowhole (St. Augustine South): Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 10–20 kts.
What skill level is Blowhole (St. Augustine South) suitable for?
Blowhole (St. Augustine South) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.