Flies (Taliwang Coast, West Sumbawa)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Chop
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Flies is a fairly exposed beach break on the Taliwang Coast (West Sumbawa) known for inconsistent surf and an average wave experience. The setup commonly features left and right peaks, but sets can be irregular, and conditions depend on finding the right swell and tide window. Rock hazards are a key safety factor at this launch. Submerged and shoreline rocks can interfere with takeoffs and landings, and sessions are strongly favored around mid tide to avoid the shallowest rock zones. On larger swell days, the spot can become messy or close out due to its open exposure, which increases the importance of reading sets and maintaining control. Wind conditions are generally supportive during the drier months: Southeast trade winds commonly blow offshore (from the E to SE sector), helping groom the waves. Typical winds are reported around 10–20 knots, with medium reliability and light gusting. The wind pattern is backed by the regional expectation of a southeast trade-wind gradient, with afternoon acceleration possible in the wider area. Timing-wise, June is repeatedly highlighted as the best month, with the dry-season window extending through about May to September. The area is generally quiet year-round; even when surf is up, it is described as unlikely to get too crowded. For planning, keep local emergency realities in mind: rescue is limited and medical support is not immediate at the beach—serious issues typically require evacuation beyond the area.
- Often uncrowded even when surf is up
- Offshore E–SE trade winds can groom waves
- Best around mid tide; best month is June
- Often uncrowded even when surf is up.
- Offshore East–Southeast trade winds can groom the waves during the dry season.
- Warm tropical water for long sessions (water temps generally in the high-20s °C).
- Exposed beach break with inconsistent surf and average wave quality.
- Rock hazards (including submerged rocks) are present; the shallowest areas can be worse outside mid-tide.
- No organized rescue/lifeguard presence at the spot.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, ESE, SE
- Offshore directions
- E, ESE, SE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Southeast trade winds are the dominant wind pattern along Taliwang Coast.
- Reliability
- medium
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- May, June, July, August, September
- Thermal Window
- Other · Afternoon · Months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct · Dir: SE, S, SSE · Afternoon acceleration can occur due to local topography, reported roughly 11:00am–5:00pm (regionally).
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop
- Beach
- Mixed — Sand and mixed rocky bottom/shoreline composition.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Medium conditions reported; can vary with swell and tide.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Wind and exposure can produce chop; one provider describes the water as chop.
- Launch
- Medium — Beach access with scattered rocks; access is directly from the beach/shoreline.
Through the year
Generally quiet year-round; June and July see slightly more visitors.
December to March
By sport
What to expect for each.
An exposed beach break with inconsistent surf. Typically has left and right peaks; less consistent than nearby reef options, but can be a fun, quiet alternative when conditions align.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- SW, S
- Swell Height
- 1–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Best around mid tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open exposure; more prone to messy conditions on larger swells.
- Wind Effect
- East and Southeast trade winds are offshore here, generally grooming the waves.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out or become messy on very large swells due to the exposed nature.
- Wave Quality
- Average
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Short
- Ride Length Details
- Short, punchy rides that often end in the shorebreak or over shallow rock sections.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Flies (Taliwang Coast, West Sumbawa) in the full forecast view.
Flies (Taliwang Coast, West Sumbawa) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–10 ktsGusts 19 kts
- Direction
- SSW206°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2410 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.4–1.1 m11s period
- Temperature
- 25–34 °C
Over the next 7 days, Flies (Taliwang Coast, West Sumbawa) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–10 kts, peaking around 10 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 19 kts. The prevailing direction is SSW. Waves run 0.4–1.1 m with a period of about 11s. 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 (including submerged rocks)
- Inconsistent sets
- Isolated location
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards are indicated for this spot.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Regional guidance indicates limited rescue availability and no organized lifeguard/pro rescue service.
- Emergency Info
- Rescue is not organized at the spot; for serious emergencies, evacuation to Lombok or Bali is standard. National emergency number: 112. Nearest major medical facility is RSUD Taliwang.
Rules of the spot
Focus on rock-aware navigation: sets can be inconsistent and shallow/submerged rocks are present; keep to mid-tide conditions when possible and avoid bigger-swelle days if you cannot read the lineup.
- Check the tide carefully as sessions are best around mid-tide to avoid the shallowest rocks.
- Keep an eye out for larger cleanup sets on big-swell days.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Taliwang
- Nearest Town
- Taliwang
- Parking
- Limited roadside parking or informal beach access parking.
- Public Transport
- Limited to infrequent local buses; many visitors rely on rented motorbikes or private transfers from the ferry terminal.
- Access
- Accessible via scooter or 4WD from Taliwang; the road can be rough in places.
- Cost Level
- Budget
- Local Language
- Indonesian
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Guesthouses and surf camps are available in the wider West Sumbawa region and in/around Taliwang town.
- Food & Drink
- Local warungs are available in Taliwang town, but options directly at the break are limited.
- Equipment Rental:
- Limited surf rentals may be available in Taliwang or nearby surf camps.
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 Flies (Taliwang Coast, West Sumbawa)?
The best overall months at Flies (Taliwang Coast, West Sumbawa) are June. The best wind months are May, June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at Flies (Taliwang Coast, West Sumbawa)?
Flies (Taliwang Coast, West Sumbawa) works with E, ESE, SE winds. Offshore directions are E, ESE, SE.
What skill level is Flies (Taliwang Coast, West Sumbawa) suitable for?
Flies (Taliwang Coast, West Sumbawa) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.