Schooner's Beach (Upper Grand Lagoon)

Schooner's Beach (Upper Grand Lagoon) is a wide, big-sand-beach Gulf Coast spot with clean water and shallow conditions near shore. Conditions typically include chop and small waves, with deeper water further out into the Gulf. The beach setup is generally beginner-friendly in terms of space for launching, but the water and shoreline can be busy during peak tourist periods. For wind sports, the core kite window is March through August, with the strongest winds coming from the south sector (SE, SSE, S, SSW, and SW). Afternoon sea breezes are common from late spring into summer, typically building after midday. Reported typical wind speeds are about 12–25 knots, and gusts are described as light. Kitesurfers commonly use roughly 9–14 m² kites, with winter fronts tending toward smaller sizes and summer sea-breeze afternoons favoring larger kites. Safety-wise, swimmers, ships, and jet skis are noted hazards, along with the potential for longshore currents during stronger systems. Riders should be mindful of swimming zones near busy beach club areas and avoid riding through designated swimming areas. Lifeguards are reported as seasonal, and rescue availability in the region is limited, so riders should plan accordingly. The area also supports light wave activity for surfing with an exposed beach-break character, typically yielding soft, mushy waves and short rides. Windsurfing and wingfoiling are both described as workable for intermediate riders on the southerly wind pattern, with wingfoiling requiring extra attention to clearing the shore break.