Heading east from Fort Pickens, you'll find Slabs, a beachbreak located on the Emerald Coast of Pensacola. Slabs isn’t named after anything special anymore, but it’s one of those spots that has its own vibe. With easy access from a parking lot, it is a popular surf spot that tends to get crowded, especially during the fall to spring season when the waves pick up. You’ll notice it's not the most unique location, but it does have its moments.
This spot offers consistent left and right beachbreaks which handle swell sizes anywhere from about 4 to 8 feet (1.2 to 2.4 meters). The best breaks happen on swells coming from ESE, SE, and S. The waves break over sand, making it good for those who want a softer landing. On a solid day, you can expect waist-high to double overhead waves that appeal to all surfing levels, but beginners might find it a bit challenging when it’s crowded. The preferred wind directions are from the NW, N, and NE, with tides that work best from low to mid-high.
While the surf can get busy, the local vibe is pretty average, so don’t expect much in terms of a tight-knit surfing community. Just watch out for the younger surfers zipping around - you definitely don’t want to get run over by a grom! So grab your shortboard, fish, or funboard, and enjoy the waves at Slabs.