Navarre Pier is a well-known pier break on the Emerald Coast, a stretch of the Gulf Coast named for its green water. Both sides of the pier break on the inside, and which side comes to life depends on the swell's size and direction. The bottom is sand, and the setup serves up both rights and lefts.
When It Works
The break draws swell from east-southeast through south to southwest (ESE-S-SW) and is usable from 1.2 m / 4 ft to 3 m / 10 ft. Size on the day ranges from head-high on the inside sandbar to double overhead out on the outer sandbar. It comes into form mainly across spring, autumn, and winter, with hurricane season adding to the mix. Quality can be uneven, and one side often works much better than the other depending on how the sand is stacked.
Wind and Tide
Look for offshore wind from the north-northwest (NNW), with a workable wind window running from west-northwest through north to northeast (WNW-N-NE). The pier itself offers some shelter from the wind. It can work through low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
Navarre Pier suits a wide spread of surfers, from beginners through to experts, and handles everything from shortboards and fish to funboards and longboards. The lineup tends to stay fairly quiet and can feel a little reserved, with a mellow atmosphere. Paddling out is fairly easy, though bigger swells turn it into more of a workout. Keep an eye out for pier fishermen and the pilings.
Access
Park in the Navarre Beach parking lot and walk the 200 yards or so to the pier.
