Fish surfboards are really in your face, in any line-up, even more so on small bumpy wave days. The name “fish” is related to many models of surfboards. Then what is a fish board? There are two main types, and possibly a third called a Swallow Tail, that is also in some circles referred to as a Fish. Thought a Swallow was a bird,… any way I digress…
Fish Traditional Model – Can also be called Retro Fish, for models based on late 70’s, early 80’s templates, these styles have aged well. Fished are traditionally, a wider fatter surfboard than normal of up to 23 inches wide and up around 5’6” – 6ft 8” in length with a thickness of up to 31/2″ proportionately. They thicker offering greater floatation for the short fat length again proportionally or custom made. Much like life in the 70’s but more usual today, is to set them up as a twin or quad (some have 5 fin set ups to allowing quad, twin or 3 fin use, a la thruster) These boards really do offer better flotation for their size.
Fish Modern Model, –Copied in shape to that of a short board but showing the “hippier” characteristic of the traditional fish. Wider than the standard Thruster Short Board, and generally chosen to be about 6 inches shorter because of the wider thicker volume. Most Modern Fish have the thruster tri-fin set up standard. Very good for surfing up to about 4ft surf and they handle bumpier conditions, and have a growing enviable reputation, as a terrific small wave performer.
Today modern world of Fish surfing has brought about the expansion of size to suit the big fellows, and it is not uncommon to see large examples up to 8’0” Fish boards. These are in proportion, shape, and thickness for their length, and perform well in relation to their size, for the weight they are designed to float, and are found readily in all real Surf-Shops. Most short board exponents these days are selecting in droves, a modern fish as their small wave preferred, surfboard. Their characteristics are similar in performance but give a extra floatation on those smaller bumpier wave days. Traditional fish owners are a little “Retro” in their outlook in that they prefer the older 80’s style boards that are thicker still and offer even more flotation and a skatier type feel. These traditonal fish are usually set up as twins or quads and can handle a wider variety of waves including way overhead surf. Not generally used in hollow sucky surf.
The epoxy examples of these surfboards have become quite common these days. They offer remarkably more flotation than their traditional polyester counterparts, as well as having added strength, but comments are that they some times don’t have the same performance feel to them, and exhibit less drive of the bottom in turns.
Link has further information on Fish Surf Boards that may be viewed on the related pages of this Web Site
