How to Choose a Fish Surfboard

The fish surfboard has made a major resurgence in surf lineups around the globe. They are fast, versatile, and most of all, fun. 

Unlike your traditional shortboard, the purchase of a fish takes a bit more of your surfing into consideration. For example, you can get a modern fish that allows you to do more pocket surfing or a more traditional shape for down the line surfing.

Fish surfboards of today can be your daily driver, allowing you to perform on average mushy days and rip on fun, offshore days alike. Many shapers are going after the do-everything surfer with their fish, allowing their shapes to perform like a shortboard with the speed and flow benefits of a fish.

What is a Fish Surfboard?

A fish surfboard is a type of surfboard designed with a specific shape and characteristics that are intended to enhance a surfer's performance in certain wave conditions. It's named after its resemblance to the shape of a fish, with a wide and flat nose that tapers into a narrower tail. This distinctive shape provides the fish surfboard with a unique set of features that make it well-suited for particular types of waves.

These boards originated in the 1960s as a response to the limitations of traditional longboards and the high-performance shortboards of that era. Surfers sought a board that combined the best of both worlds: the wave-catching ability of a longboard and the maneuverability of a shortboard. The fish design emerged as a solution, and it has remained popular ever since.

Types of Fish Surfboards

Fish Tail Surfboard (Retro or classic fish)

The classic fish surfboard embodies the original design principles of the fish shape that emerged in the 1960s. Its key characteristics include:

• Wide and Flat: A wide, flat, and relatively short board with a distinct swallowtail (split tail) design.

• Twin Fins: Equipped with a twin fin setup positioned close to the rails. This enhances maneuverability and provides a loose feel on the wave.

• Low Rocker: Features a relatively flat bottom curve (rocker) that promotes speed and early wave entry.

• Buoyancy: Due to its width and thickness, it offers excellent floatation and wave-catching ability.

• Ideal Conditions: Performs well in smaller, mushy waves where speed and quick turns are essential.

Perfomance Fish Surfboard

The performance fish takes the classic fish design and incorporates modern advancements to suit the needs of more experienced surfers. Its characteristics include:

• Refined Shape: Retains the wider outline and swallowtail of the classic fish, but often with slightly more refined curves and dimensions.

• Quad Fin Option: While twin fins are still common, performance fish boards may have the option for a quad fin setup (four fins) to provide enhanced drive and control.

• Enhanced Maneuverability: Designed for sharper and more controlled turns while maintaining the fish's signature speed and flow.

• Moderate Rocker: Balances speed with maneuverability, often featuring a rocker that's slightly more pronounced than the classic fish.

• Versatility: Can handle a wider range of wave conditions, from smaller waves to slightly larger and more powerful waves.

Hybrid Fish Surfboard

The hybrid fish takes inspiration from both traditional fish and high-performance shortboards, blending elements for a versatile surfing experience. Its features include:

• Modified Outline: A more refined shape that combines the width of a classic fish with a narrower nose and tail for improved performance.

• Fusion Fin Setup: Can feature a variety of fin setups, such as a traditional twin fin, a quad fin, or a combination of both (known as a "5-fin setup"), offering adaptability to different wave types.

• Balanced Rocker: Strikes a balance between speed generation and responsiveness, making it suitable for a wider range of wave conditions.

• All-Around Performance: Offers the wave-catching ability of a fish combined with the maneuverability and performance aspects of a shortboard.

• Intermediate to Advanced Surfers: Best suited for surfers with some experience who want a versatile board for varying conditions.

Fish Surfboard Shape

Key characteristics of a fish surfboard include:

Wide Outline: The wider nose and midsection of the board give it extra stability and buoyancy, allowing the surfer to catch waves earlier and with ease.

Swallow Tail: The tail of a fish surfboard is often split into two distinct points, creating a shape known as a "swallow tail." This design feature allows for quick and responsive turns, making it ideal for maneuvering in smaller and mushier waves.

Low Rocker: Fish surfboards typically have a flatter curvature along the bottom (known as the rocker), which enables them to glide over flat sections of waves and generate speed more efficiently.

Twin Fins: Fish surfboards traditionally feature a twin fin setup, where two smaller fins are placed closer to the rails (sides) of the board. This configuration enhances maneuverability and allows for sharper turns.

Wider Overall: Compared to traditional shortboards, fish surfboards are often wider, shorter, and thicker. This provides better stability, wave-catching ability, and paddling power.

Fish Surfboard FAQ

What are fish surfboards good for?

Fish surfboards are especially well-suited for small to medium-sized waves, and they excel in conditions where speed and quick turns are essential.

What’s the difference between a fish vs a shortboard?

A fish surfboard is wider, shorter, and often has a swallowtail, optimized for smaller waves and a more relaxed style of surfing. A shortboard, on the other hand, is narrower and longer, designed for high-performance maneuvers and better suited to powerful waves and experienced surfers.

What’s the difference between a fish vs a funboard?

A fish surfboard is shorter, wider, and excels in smaller waves, prioritizing speed and maneuverability. A funboard, which is slightly longer and wider than a shortboard, strikes a balance between stability and maneuverability, suitable for a broader range of conditions and intermediate surfers.

Are fish surfboards good for beginners?

Fish surfboards are not typically recommended for absolute beginners. They are designed to excel in specific wave conditions and require a certain level of skill to fully enjoy. Beginners usually benefit from longer, more stable boards like longboards or foamboards, which offer better stability for learning to paddle, balance, and catch waves. Once a beginner has gained some experience and comfort in the water, they can consider transitioning to a fish surfboard if they are interested in that style of surfing.

What size fish surfboard should I get?

The size of a fish surfboard depends on factors such as your skill level, weight, height, and the types of waves you plan to ride. As a general guideline, you’d want to use a surfboard volume calculator to get a baseline for the volume of the surfboard you can ride. However, as fish boards are intended to be a bit more buoyant than the average shortboard, they are not as attached to the volume recommendations. In other words, you could easily get a really fun, cruisy fish that was three, four, or even five liters more than what your shortboard volume would be.

Fish Surfboard Analysis Criteria 

As mentioned, the best fish surfboard for you may not be the best fish surfboard for someone else. Where you may want something cruisy for styling down the line, someone else may want something they can do some new school maneuvers on.