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.
Central Florida, Florida, United States
16th St. South
28.290, -80.606
Edited by Tom Jackson
Verified May 2026
Editor-verifiedCross-checked against Surfline
At a glance
- 16th St. South is a a-frame over beach, mellow shifting beach break peaks.
- Beginner to advanced ability, working 2-6 ft.
- Peak August to April, water 18-29°C.
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
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Character
Mellow shifting beach break peaks.
Conditions
When it worksHazards
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
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
16th St. South surf forecast
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Forecast by Windy.app
Stay nearby
Camps within boat range
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No vetted camps within boat range of 16th St. South yet.
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Frequently asked
What you need to know before paddling out at 16th St. South
What skill level is 16th St. South suited for?
16th St. South is a beach bottom, mellow shifting beach break peaks, break suited for beginner through advanced surfers. Beginners can give it a go on the smaller end of the size range.
What size does 16th St. South work best at?
Working size is 2 to 6 ft. Below 2 ft the swell goes flat. Above 6 ft it tends to close out.
When is the best season to surf 16th St. South?
16th St. South fires from August through April. Outside that window the swell window narrows and the lineup goes quiet.
What swell direction does 16th St. South need?
16th St. South switches on with swells out of the ENE to ESE (67 to 112 degrees).
What are the main hazards at 16th St. South?
Main hazards at 16th St. South: Watch for occasional shark or man-o-war..
What type of wave is 16th St. South?
16th St. South is a a-frame-breaking wave over beach. Mellow shifting beach break peaks.
Sources
- Surfline
16th St. South
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