Surf: General: Further south on Longboat Key is another good break called Whitney Beach, located right across the street from Whitney Shopping Center. Quality depends on the shifting sands, but it's usually a good north swell spot. In fact, Whitney's your only cold-front option between Bradenton and Venice, which is 40 miles south. Parking can be sketchy. Leave your car to the south or on a side street. Also, there are submerged pilings along the south part of Whitney. Tides: Low incoming Size: Thigh-head high Wind: Onshore to generate some surf, ENE-E for clean conditions Swell: NW Bottom: Sand, some pilings Paddling: Easy most days, can be a little more challenging on the bigger windswell days. Spot Rating: Hard to access but this spot is always worth a look. You never known what you are going to get and you could just luck in to some quality surf with just you and a few friends. Access: Parking can be a nightmare. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Minimal. Local Vibe: Easy. Environment: Outside of occasional red tide outbreaks, water is usually clean. Hazards: Submerged pilings. Season: Fall-Spring, Hurricane