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Sebastian Inlet - Break Data
Surf spot travel photo of Sebastian Inlet
Description
Part talent show, part photo studio, part boxing ring, Sebastian Inlet is not only Florida's most famous spot, it's the break most synonymous with all of East Coast surfing. Sebastian has actually been the subject of headlines since the '60s, when construction began on this once natural inlet, resulting in the rubble jetty responsible for Sebastian's now famous refractory magic. Building its reputation by producing some of the world's best surfers -- names such as Jeff Crawford, Matt Kechele and six-time world champion Kelly Slater -- the same environment that forced such heroes to out-surf each other also created a competitive vibe ripe for clashing, making the Inlet as well-known for taking average surfers out as it is for launching superstar careers. It's also considered the birthplace of the aerial.

While people do occasionally surf the south side of the Inlet, the north side is home to the jetty and all its glories, including the big league spot, First Peak, and its less perfect but equally popular siblings, Second Peak, Third Peak and OK Signs. Getting there is simple -- some would say too simple. Take A1A 18 miles south past Indialantic and before the foot of the Inlet's bridge, you'll see the state park sign on the right. Turn there and follow the road to a kiosk. Pay the ranger $5, and try to find a parking spot in the right-hand lot (under the bridge is considered prime real estate for the shade). From there, simply walk east over either crosswalk and begin cowering at the sheer mayhem of it all. (The south side entrance offers no access to the north side, so if you go over a bridge and miss the entrance, use the small dirt lot on the other side to turn around. Don't sweat it; in fact, most surfers cross the bridge for an aerial perspective of what the waves and crowd are up to. They refer to this intentionally slow U-turn as a "bridge check.")

It may be a draw for fisherman -- who cast lines almost directly into the lineup -- divers and drunken family picnics, but surfing has always been the lifeline of Sebastian Inlet. Sessions there continue to set and raise standards for breaks nationwide. Swells bounce off the jetty at First Peak with extra juice that can either max out the potential of a 1-foot dribbler or add a few feet -- and one hell of a barrel -- to a head-high nugget. This power boost allows for legendary situations and maneuvers to arise within a stone's toss of spectators and photographers, who gain vantage from the jetty. Second Peak, Third Peak and OK Signs don't benefit from the jetty's wedge, but are almost as fun, at least enough to keep mere mortals happy. In fact, sometimes those peaks break even better, especially on north swells.

Sebastian Inlet can get claustrophobically crowded; you can also surf it alone. In general, wave quality is not even an issue, so the only true way to find out is to make the long drive south. If you decide to take the First Peak plunge, be warned: the fiercely regulated pecking order has chased many to the shore or up the coast. The inside bowl -- aka the Kiddie Bowl -- is also littered with groms fighting for scraps, who scramble when Bill Hartley, David Speir or other bigger locals even look at a set. Even worse is Second Peak and down through the OK Signs, where all of surfing's creatures are welcome to flail into wedging closeouts in 2 feet of water. That's the best area to get your feet wet, then gradually work your way toward the main arena over the course of a thousand sessions. The only locals ranked above the First Peak guard are the sharks -- and even the frequent sightings and yearly attacks don't inhibit the diehards. You may also run into one or more of nature's friendliest sea mammals, the manatee.
-- Matt Anderson 		Best Tide:
low
Best Swell Direction:
E
Best Size:
2 to 6 feet
Best Wind:
W
Perfect-O-Meter:
8 (1=Lake Erie; 10=Jeffreys Bay)
Bottom:
sand
Ability Level:
intermediate and up
Bring Your:
money for snacks, leash and manners
Best Season:
hurricane
Access:
$5 daily
Crowd Factor:
can be rough
Local Vibe:
heritage-oriented
Bicep Burn:
6 (1=1ft Waikiki; 10=15ft Ocean Beach)
Poo Patrol:
1 (1=clean; 10=turds in the lineup)
Shark Danger:
5 (1=none; 10=bring an iron cage)
Hazards:
Crowds cut your chances of being attacked;
Places To Eat
Leaving Melbourne Beach, you'll pass a no-name convenience store and gas station, a 7-Eleven with its own set of pumps and a strip mall packed with options, including a Publix super market. After that, you've got about 10 miles to your next quick gas and food stop at Floridana -- which is marked by a blinking yellow light and 45 mph speed trap. Two bait and tackle stores rest within three miles of the Inlet: Long Point Bait and Tackle (321-984-4131) is right at the entrance to Long Point Park, a mile north of Sebastian, and sells gas, wax and sandwiches and Whitey's (321-724-1440) sticks with the fishing goods, beer and an occasional snack item. Be prepared to pay $3.25 to access the Inlet's facilities, food bar and break. The only other available watering holes are a handful of restaurants along A1A. The New England Eatery is closer to town and has fine beer and fried seafood (321-723-6080), and the Sebastian Beach Inn lives just past the blinking light. SBI (321-728-4311) is actually best known as a live music option, though it serves food as well.
Places To Stay
At this point, you can either drive back to Indialantic and find a hotel -- Quality Suites (800-228-5151) or Holiday Inn (321-777-4100) -- or scoot south toward Sebastian Inlet. There's a small beachside hotel called The Surfcaster Motel (321-723-1967) along the way, or you can set up camp at the Inlet (561-589-9659) or Long Point Park (321-952-4532), which is a mile north of Sebastian. If you have cash to burn, check out one of the hotels in Vero Beach. Sea Turtle Inn is that area's self-proclaimed cheapest option at $54 to $94 a night, depending on the season (561-234-0788).

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Things To Do
If you're staying near the Inlet, you better like camping or fishing. If so, Honest John's (321-727-2923) will rent you a canoe to check out the inland waters. For nightlife, there's only one option for Southern Brevard: The Sebastian Beach Inn (321-728-4311). Known locally as SBI, this bar has live music almost every weekend, even hosting a Sunday reggae show from time to time. It makes sense to hop in the water for a combination of surf and sounds when the waves are good, or you can just dive in for a rinse when they're not. If you stay long -- and drink hard -- make sure you have a designated driver. Cabs are virtually nonexistent; cops are virtually everywhere.
Surf Shops
Long Point Park carries wax. Otherwise, head back to Mel Beach or down to Vero.

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