On a north swell, Middles breaks like Blowhole, but in reverse. It can also be a foot or two bigger than anywhere else. The big difference between Blowhole and Middles (other than their swell-direction workings) is that Middles is more of a defined peak. However, it is also more localized, so you don't want to sit on the main break and piss off the locals. They will hassle you. One more spot can be found past Middles just south of St. Augustine Inlet, but you need four-wheel drive, as it only breaks at high tide. The rangers give tickets to anyone driving too close to the dunes, and you may have to in order to get out. A few locals are in court at the time of this writing asking the judge to be lenient -- this is not recommended.



Best tide: low to mid

Best swell direction: SE and S, but breaks well on all swells

Best size: 2 to 10 feet

Best wind: W



Perfecto-meter: 7 (1=Lake Erie; 10=Jeffreys Bay)

Bottom: sand

Ability level: all, more experienced in winter

Bring your: shortboard, longboard

Best season: all -- fall is best; can be flat in summer

Access: drive on the beach and park anywhere

Crowd factor: depends on the day and season; more crowded in summer

Local vibe: can get hairy

Bicep burn: 6, more or less, depending on the swell. (1=knee-high Waikiki; 10=triple-overhead Ocean Beach)

Poo patrol: 2 (1=clean 10=turds in the lineup)

Hazards: pissed-off locals, tourists in the lineup

Back to Anastasia State Recreation Area

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