Surf: General: Shell Island is a gorgeous, deserted state preserve. The break at Shell Island is on the east side of the east jetty, on the other side of the rocks from Amazons. This is a seriously powerful, wedging peak. There is a left that breaks toward the jetty and a right that breaks away from it. It's a steep, hollow, A-frame type of wave. It's best in the winter and spring, when cold fronts have passed through and the swell is still up. Because it's next to a pass, the tides can have a strong effect on the quality of the wave. Tides: Light incoming, slack or light outgoing Size: Waist-overhead Wind: NNW, N, NE Swell: SE, S, SW Bottom: Sand with jetty Paddling: Spot breaks close to the beach, but if you do not hitch a ride on a boat, be prepared for a solid paddle across the channel. Spot Rating: Can get fun here with a little reflection wedge off the jetty on smaller days. Challenging wave when bigger and not for beginning level surfers. Access: Take a boat and launch at St. Andrews boat ramp. Crowds: Crowd Factor: None to speak of. Local Vibe: Average to heavy. Environment: This is the emerald coast, so named due to the water color. Hazards: Normal sea life - sharks, jellyfish, sea lice. Season: Fall-Spring, Hurricane