St Augustine Pier
- Bodyboard, Beginners
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Small waves
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
St. Augustine Pier is a fairly exposed pier-area beach break where the pier structure helps form sandbars that can produce consistent, rideable surf. The break is described as working around the year, with particular emphasis on July as a best month. Across conditions, the wave size is typically small to medium, with a small shore break and an overall exposed setup. Wind patterns strongly influence quality. West (and nearby offshore-leaning directions) are highlighted as the best for grooming waves, while other directions can make the water surface more textured or blown out. Seasonal sea-breeze influence is also mentioned, with lighter sea-breeze activity commonly developing on summer afternoons. For planning, the spot’s wind and swell alignment can change conditions quickly, especially around the pier. The most important safety considerations are ocean hazards and the pier itself. Rip currents and undertow are specifically called out, alongside pier-area man-made hazards such as pier pilings and floating/anchored items. Sharks are also mentioned as a hazard in multiple spot contexts, and crowding is common when the waves are clean and rideable—so situational awareness near swimmers is essential. The spot is active for multiple water sports. Surfing is the primary focus here, with kitesurfing, windsurfing, and wingfoiling described as using the broader nearby beach zone; however, restrictions for kitesurfing near the pier structure are emphasized (keeping clear of the pier area). Overall, the pier break suits surfers looking for regular beach-break sessions and accessible sandbar-driven waves, with intermediate-level ocean caution due to the rip/undertow environment.
- Pier-shaped sandbars supporting consistent beach-break surfing
- West-offshore wind direction improves surf quality
- July singled out as a best month for the break
- Often consistently rideable beach-break setup shaped by pier sandbars
- Works across the year, with July singled out as a best month
- Offshore wind direction can groom waves for better surf
- Rips and undertow risk near the pier area
- Man-made hazards from pier structures (and buoys) in and around the break
- Crowding increases when clean swell lines up
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W
- Offshore directions
- W
- Wind Range
- 13 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Sea-breeze influence; winds are often strongly guided by Atlantic heating and winter frontal systems.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Gusts described as moderate for the spot’s surfing context.
- Best Months
- July
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Small to medium conditions are described across sources.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Chop is referenced in nearby kitesurf-related physical summaries; surf remains generally manageable.
- Launch
- Medium — Pier-adjacent beachbreak entry; wider sandy setup space is described south of the pier structure.
Through the year
Highest during summer months and holiday weekends; surf crowds concentrate near the pier.
Hurricane season runs from June through November (tropical activity highest often Aug–Sep).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Kitesurfing is described as popular along the adjacent stretch of beach, with riders typically using a farther-south access to reduce pier-structure risk and crowding.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Suitable for ocean windsurfing when wind is side-onshore; sandbar breaks can support rolling wave riding.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7.5 m²
Foil-friendly after clearing the shore break; sandy bottom reduces foil damage risk, but riders should be mindful of low-tide depth.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Described as foil-friendly once past the inner sandbar.
- Min Depth
- 1.2 meters beyond the inner sandbar.
- Wing Sizes
- 4.5–6 m²
A fairly exposed pier-area beachbreak. The pier shapes sandbars that can produce consistent, rideable waves, with east-swell working alongside west-offshore wind patterns.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- E
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — General rideability across tides is described; additional guidance suggests improvement as the tide comes in toward high tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — The pier-area break is exposed to prevailing conditions.
- Wind Effect
- West to northwest winds provide best offshore grooming; other directions can make the surface more textured or blown out.
- Bigger Swell
- Can hold size on bigger swell but may close out on very large, short-period sets.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Described as good/rideable with crowding when lines up cleanly.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Rated moderate for the pier-break’s typical rideability.
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — Wave shape is described as mixed across sources.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Surf is described as having a peeling wave tendency.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Rides are described as short to medium depending on sandbar configuration.
- Typical Ride Length
- 30–70 m
- Ride Length Details
- Sources describe typical rides ranging up to roughly 70 meters depending on sandbar configuration; some summaries also describe rides as short with small to moderate surf.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for St Augustine Pier in the full forecast view.
St Augustine Pier wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 9–21 ktsGusts 34 kts
- Direction
- NE35°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2521 kts
- Windy days
- 6/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.8–3.5 m8s period
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C
Over the next 7 days, St Augustine Pier is forecast for daytime winds of 9–21 kts, peaking around 21 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 34 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 1.8–3.5 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
- Rip currents
- Undertow
- Pier pilings/structures
- Buoys and other man-made hazards
- Swimmers
- Crowds
- Sharks
- Localism
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard presence is described for major access points in the area.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is described as limited, with seasonal marine/lifeguard coverage at major pier/beach access points.
- Emergency Info
- Dial 911. Flagler Health+ St. Augustine is cited as the nearest hospital (about 10–15 minutes away).
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Described as localism; surf crowd behavior can reflect local priorities around the pier.
Rules of the spot
Water sports involving equipment should keep clear of the pier structure; surfers should yield to swimmers in designated areas.
- No kiting within 100 meters of the pier structure.
- West wind is the offshore direction for surf conditions at this pier-area break.
- Rips and undertow are the main ocean hazards—be cautious around the edges of the surf zone.
- Conditions can change noticeably with tide; surfing is often best when the tide is coming in.
- Crowding tends to increase when the swell lines up and waves become clean and rideable.
- For kitesurfing, use a nearby access farther from the pier to avoid structural hazards and pier crowding.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- St. Augustine
- Nearest Town
- St. Augustine South
- Nearest Airport
- Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
- Parking
- Paid parking is referenced at the pier park (plus possible nearby free street parking).
- Access
- Access is from the St. Augustine Pier area / pier park area.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous hotels, vacation rentals, and campsites are described within walking distance in the broader St. Augustine Beach area.
- Food & Drink
- Multiple restaurants and bars are described directly across the street from the pier park area.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is referenced as available for surfboards/SUP and for kite/wing gear through nearby local shops.
- Gear Storage
- Gear storage is described as available at select local shops / nearby accommodations.
- Gear Repair
- Local surf shops provide minor board repairs.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The St. Augustine area mixes historic downtown attractions with a strong ocean-and-pier culture focused on riding sports.
Historic lighthouse with panoramic views.
Beaches, dunes, marshes, and hiking trails across more than 1,600 acres.
Historic masonry fort in St. Augustine.
Crocodilian-focused zoo with additional visitor activities.
Beachfront dining with ocean views.
Community hub with family-focused facilities and fishing access.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at St Augustine Pier?
The best overall months at St Augustine Pier are July, September, October, November, March, April, May, August, June. The best wind months are July.
Which wind directions work at St Augustine Pier?
St Augustine Pier works with W winds. Offshore directions are W.
What equipment sizes are recommended at St Augustine Pier?
Recommended equipment sizes at St Augustine Pier: Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5.5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4.5–6 m². The typical wind range is 13 kts.
What skill level is St Augustine Pier suitable for?
St Augustine Pier suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.