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NCO Club - Break Data
Surf spot travel photo of NCO Club
Description
The NCO Beach Club is, without a doubt, the most popular and all-around consistent spot in the Fort Walton area. When nowhere else is breaking, which is often, NCO will have a decent wave. Follow Highway 98 east toward Destin, turn into the parking lot right before Destin bridge and look for surfers' cars and the sign saying NCO Beach Club. From the west, head through Destin; it's just over the Destin bridge on the left. Look for the building on the beach with 60 or so surf-friendly vehicles.

Because it's only about a mile from Destin's west jetty, NCO gets swell without the degree of drift that other beaches have, and there are waves all the way from the west jetty to the beach club. On medium to large days, most surfers walk toward the jetty, about halfway, and surf all the way down to the club, then walk back. The wave closest to the jetty is an unpredictable, shifty, twisting peak. About midway between the jetty and the club is a long, fast midbreak that's great on summer days. Out in front of NCO, the best midbreak produces a long, slower wall that's sometimes hollow on the inside.
-- Dave R. 		Best Tide:
low going high
Best Swell Direction:
E, S, SE
Best Size:
waist-high to double overhead
Best Wind:
NE, N
Perfect-O-Meter:
5 (1=Lake Erie; 10=Jeffreys Bay)
Bottom:
sand
Ability Level:
beginner to expert
Bring Your:
shortboard, longboard, bodyboard
Best Season:
all
Access:
park in NCO parking lot
Crowd Factor:
high, but spread out
Local Vibe:
mellow
Bicep Burn:
6 (1=1ft Waikiki; 10=15ft Ocean Beach)
Poo Patrol:
2, diapers on the beach in summer. (1=clean; 10=turds in the lineup)
Hazards:
Concrete from the foundation of an old sea wall in front of the restaurant. Don't run fast into the water -- you might lose a toe.
Places To Eat
In the summer, the NCO club has an inexpensive grill for lunch. Otherwise, check out Angler's Restaurant and Bar (850-796-0260) for good food and a view of the break off the pier, or try the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Places To Stay
There are at least two cheap options: the Greenwood Motel (850-244-1141) will run you $32 a night in the off-season, or try the Okaloosa Island Econo Lodge (850-243-7123), which is about $10 more.

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Things To Do
Fort Walton is one of the main tourist traps along the Panhandle, full of the standard options. Go-karts and miniature golf courses are everywhere, as are water parks. In most cases, the best nightlife is in Destin, but you may want to check out Sammy's On the Island (850-244-0390), a local strip club. Just remember: you touch, you go. For more options, try the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Surf Shops
Fort Walton has three surfing retail stores: Fluid Surf Shop (850-235-2217), Innerlight Surf and Sport (850-244-2233) and Islanders Surf and Sport (850-244-0451).

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Have a correction, update or addition for this spot? Contact us at travel@surfline.com