What size does 16th St. South work best at?

2–6 ft is the working range. Below that it goes flat; above, it stops being fun and the lineup thins out.

When is the best season to surf 16th St. South?

Peak season runs through the months when the swell window aligns and trade winds blow offshore. See the month strip in Wave fit for the working window.

What are the main hazards?

Watch for occasional shark or man-o-war.. Reef booties are common at reef breaks; check tide and crowd conditions before paddling out.

What type of wave is 16th St. South?

16th St. South is a a-frame breaking wave over beach. Mellow shifting beach break peaks.

Central Florida, Florida, United States

16th St. South

28.290, -80.606

Edited by Thomas Jackson

Verified May 2026

Editor-verifiedCross-checked against 1 reference

A-frame · BeachBeginner → Advanced2–6 ftJan – Dec

A shifting sandbar beach break on the central Cocoa Beach stretch, 16th St. South offers mellow peaks for all skill levels when the rest of Brevard County is firing. ENE to ESE swell is the sweet spot, though a NNE angle can get partially blocked by Cape Canaveral sitting to the north. Best wind is westerly, keeping faces clean. Optimal size is thigh-high to just overhead, and it reads better at low to mid tide, though high tide occasionally produces workable peaks here when the south end of Brevard shuts down. Crowd is moderate, the vibe is welcoming, and sandbars shift constantly so the wave character never stays the same for long. Bottom: sand. Season: fall through spring, with hurricane swells adding variety in late summer and fall. Consistency: moderate. Arrive early on weekends, as parking fills up, check for man-o-war on the sand before paddling out, and keep an eye on the water for the occasional shark.

Wave fit

Skill suited

Beginner → Advanced

BegIntAdv

Best months

Jan – Dec

Character

Mellow shifting beach break peaks.

Conditions

When it works

Hazards

Watch for occasional shark or man-o-war.

Trip planning

Quick facts

Water temp

18° to 29°C

Wetsuit

Boardies to 2mm

What to bring

Longboard or funboard for small days
Shortboard 5ft 10in to 6ft 4in for overhead conditions
Fish for gutless or slow peaks

Lineup

Mellow lineup

Where it sits

Location

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About this break

What it's actually like

Crowd Access Nearby Alternatives

Crowd & Localism

Lineup attitude is mellow and the crowd is moderate. On a good sandbar with clean swell on a weekend, it can get busy, but the wide beach means spread-out peaks and room to find your own. No notable localism pressure.

Access & Facilities

Street-end access with parking at most entry points. Lots fill on weekends in season, so an early start helps. Water quality is generally clean. Portuguese man-o-war wash up periodically, scan the shoreline before paddling. Shark sightings are occasional, standard Florida awareness applies.

Nearby Alternatives

When this peak is blown out or the sandbar is flat, the rest of Cocoa Beach offers similar beach break options north and south along the same swell window. The pier area and central Cocoa Beach can have better sand formation on any given day, so a quick drive up the coast is worth the five minutes.

10-day swell, wind and tide