Fish Vs Shortboard - Which Is A Better Surfboard??

Going surfing can be enhanced or restricted by surfboard choice. It can be a tricky decision for sure, and involves checking the surf conditions and knowing your own preferences and abilities. Some boards perform better than others, some are more radical, some offer more flow. The number one thing to consider, as always, is your own preference. Which board lets you have the most fun? In this video I dissect and discuss the differences between two common shapes; the shortboard and the fish. Note: my shortboard is quite 'fishy' in nature anyway. Let me know what you think in the comments below! Ryan and Kale surf a JR Surfboards Wraptor in Tri Flex technology, see more at; JRSURFBOARDS.COM.AU Mention HOW TO RIP for 25% OFF all accessories when you purchase a Surfboard! Ryan and Kale practice their surfing technique on a SmoothStar, get yours at; SmoothStar.com.au Mention HOW TO RIP for a FREE GIFT with your next SmoothStar purchase!

Fish Vs Shortboard - Which Is A Better Surfboard?? sentiment_very_dissatisfied 36

Reviews 6 years ago 93,275 views

Going surfing can be enhanced or restricted by surfboard choice. It can be a tricky decision for sure, and involves checking the surf conditions and knowing your own preferences and abilities. Some boards perform better than others, some are more radical, some offer more flow. The number one thing to consider, as always, is your own preference. Which board lets you have the most fun? In this video I dissect and discuss the differences between two common shapes; the shortboard and the fish. Note: my shortboard is quite 'fishy' in nature anyway. Let me know what you think in the comments below! Ryan and Kale surf a JR Surfboards Wraptor in Tri Flex technology, see more at; JRSURFBOARDS.COM.AU Mention HOW TO RIP for 25% OFF all accessories when you purchase a Surfboard! Ryan and Kale practice their surfing technique on a SmoothStar, get yours at; SmoothStar.com.au Mention HOW TO RIP for a FREE GIFT with your next SmoothStar purchase!

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Most popular comments
for Fish Vs Shortboard - Which Is A Better Surfboard??

Matthew Raymond
Matthew Raymond - 4 years ago
Kale , I originally had a 6”8 McCoy surfboard , after years of stopping surfing have started again and the surfing bug , I brought a SF3 fidh board TS , and found I was struggling to catch waves and being 120 kilos , I also now brought a Larger McCoy 7”8 60 litres and struggling to catch waves ... I noticed you love the foam boards and are they easier to catch small waves as of late in the south coast swells and South Maroubra
Lucian D'Hudson
Lucian D'Hudson - 4 years ago
I love all the outdoor sounds with birds! Really nice guys. Great Vid!
Dan Colbert
Dan Colbert - 4 years ago
You ever ridden the wraptor as a twin Kale? Seems like it outline would lend itself well to a twin or 2 + 1...
Julian Sar
Julian Sar - 5 years ago
i'm 5'7, what size fish should i get? i'm a beginner
Jamie MX
Jamie MX - 4 years ago
Julian Sar if your a complete beginner maybe get a foam board at like 6”6 maybe just because fibre glass hurts a lot when you get hit in the head
Jamie Pirie
Jamie Pirie - 5 years ago
I'm 75kg and looking to get a 6'2-6'4 fish board. what volume is recommended. (I'll be a beginner but i'm an advanced snowboarder and skater so I want to skip the longboards and get into shortboards) I've researched and am thinking around 35-40L of volume. btw i have tried a 6'1 shortboard and could barely pop up onto it it just sank!
joshmeister3000
joshmeister3000 - 5 years ago
Just to note , notice how he has larger fins this is a major benefactor when progressing from a longboard, if your finding your sticks not working for you upgrade your fins before going out and swapping out your board , smaller fins on twin fins = silly speed!!! riding 6.4 fish for 9 years also fishs are awesome!! but as doudogg states, super challenging on steep waves , crack your thruster / flying carpet out , great success also making fins and adding larger fins to the 7ft carpet its like riding the fish but feels like a mal its two x large fins on the outside shaped to 6.25" height pick your sweep and a standard m5/g5 center fin its a right barrel bunny.
Stephan Gordon
Stephan Gordon - 5 years ago
What's the name of the song? Thanks for the videos!
Jason Rogalla
Jason Rogalla - 5 years ago
I am an intermediate surfer, thinking about fish but worried about nose diving in steep medium size waves. Thus, do you think a fish would hold up in medium size steep waves that break fast?
Gonk Droid
Gonk Droid - 5 years ago
Yeah definitely I bought a fish board and as I progressed and started to surf bigger waves I had no problems
gillian_ _d
gillian_ _d - 5 years ago
Where can I order the blue surfboard on the left btw I’m a beginner and don’t have one.
gillian_ _d
gillian_ _d - 5 years ago
My stats weight 71kg height 162cm and need about a 49.7 for volume

10. comment for Fish Vs Shortboard - Which Is A Better Surfboard??

SuperCrackerjacks
SuperCrackerjacks - 5 years ago
Forty liters for a beginner. Sound frustrating I would say. But after a week or a couple of with an easier stick, sure. I'm 53, experience about 160 days and I have 46 and 52,5 liters fishes.
Mason Neal
Mason Neal - 5 years ago
What size fish would you recommend. I'd be surfing 2-3ft waves. Not much push from the wave. I've thought about a longboard or fun board as well??
Mason Neal
Mason Neal - 5 years ago
@Aiden Bhana lol what is that??
Aiden Bhana
Aiden Bhana - 5 years ago
Mason Neal you could also try a groveler board
Fernando Moya
Fernando Moya - 5 years ago
Witch is better for big waves
Steve Lorenz
Steve Lorenz - 5 years ago
What's the dimension of your Blue twin fin and the shaper please.
Stefan Black
Stefan Black - 5 years ago
Hey that describes me exactly, and im really happy with my 6'8" super fish ~ 42L. Super nimble for its size and volume, but easy to catch waves. Only draw back its only borderline duck divable. Its the 7S Superfish XL. Ill grant it aint the prettiest board, but super versatile - I love it.
kouranda
kouranda - 5 years ago
Really helpful thank you.
Jody Blackwell
Jody Blackwell - 5 years ago
Sorry but I do not agree with you there are a lot of us out here that do not do snap turns and roundhouse cutbacks or huge floaters I've b even surfing for 59 years on a single fin longboard and am still stoked and can do most all I want on it
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
Okay :) as mentioned, whatever floats your boat
Leonie Fuchs
Leonie Fuchs - 5 years ago
my name geff
JorgeAndresCoppiano.
JorgeAndresCoppiano. - 5 years ago
Small Wave board (ideally for 1-4 ft surf)
vs
Small Wave Performance Board (2-6 ft)

Right?
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
Yeah, wave quality is also a big consideration, fat and slow vs fast and steep. Faster and steeper will suit the performance style board more.
Flying with the Bird
Flying with the Bird - 5 years ago
I had been on a large board for awhile and struggled. After watching your video I got a 6’3 fish. My surfing has taken off. Longboards don’t fit well in small curly beach breaks for me. Also they ruined my pop up because they are too floaty and often race ahead of the wave face. I have a PU fish and it pauses in the lip for just a half second before taking the drop. This is pop up time and it stays in the pocket. It’s not long enough to catch the nose like my longer boards on steeper waves. Great advice thanks!
Flying with the Bird
Flying with the Bird - 5 years ago
Tomas Zajacek hey Tom I am 72kg cheers
Tomas Zajacek
Tomas Zajacek - 5 years ago
What is your weight if i may ask?

20. comment for Fish Vs Shortboard - Which Is A Better Surfboard??

Wallace Murray
Wallace Murray - 5 years ago
Hahahah - - my long board will never become redundant ;-)
Colum Nolan
Colum Nolan - 5 years ago
Should you use a board that is the same height as you?
NavalSEALSniper & Sports
NavalSEALSniper & Sports - 5 years ago
I’m a beginner (looking for my first personal board) and I’m debating the fish board option. The only place I would generally surf has small to medium surf. I’m 135 pounds and about 5’9”. I’m still pretty inexperienced but I wanna try and progress as fast as I possibly could without rushing it. That’s just simply due to the fact that I live a HECTIC life. I plan on kind of growing into it too so I may end up quite a bit bigger with my first board too. Any recommendations? I’m really just looking for something to just kind of mess around on. I don’t wanna get a softie, but a longboard doesn’t sound like it’s for me either. If I don’t get a fish board I would get a long short board or a short long board. I really just don’t know.
Ripped Dave
Ripped Dave - 5 years ago
no way is a JR wraptor a 'regular' short board. Definitely a hybrid. Would consider a shortboard a typical square tail
panedole
panedole - 5 years ago
This is glorious, I been tryin to find out about "fishing for red drum in the surf" for a while now, and I think this has helped. You ever tried - Wenayden Xenaylee Blaster - (do a google search ) ? Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my friend got great results with it.
Marco Sahagun
Marco Sahagun - 5 years ago
You have the coolest name
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
Thanks ;)
Rich D
Rich D - 5 years ago
What kind of fish is that?
AncientWisdom
AncientWisdom - 5 years ago
Is there a formula for the volume a surfboard should be given a certain height/weight? And is it different when choosing a normal vs a fish board?
I'm 1.75m, 76kg. Beginner surfer (can pop on a fun board but not much else). You ddidn't mention funboards - what are your thoughts on them for beginners? Would you recommend I try a fish? What size/volume?
Cheers mate!!
Graham Greenland
Graham Greenland - 5 years ago
If your an advanced level surfer get a board that's about one liter of volume for every 5-6 pounds that you weigh. If you're less advanced I'd go 3-4 pounds per liter. But it does also make a big difference how the board is foiled (ie WHERE the shaper placed the foam) and also how flat the rocker is. Flatter boards will paddle faster but not do as well in steeper/bigger surf. Rail shape is also a factor, rounder rails are more forgiving and more stable (can be good for beginners) but a thinner rail will turn more aggressively and be more responsive.
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
In our most recent video :) plus more videos to come
lazy God
lazy God - 5 years ago
fishy very sus
phat poosi
phat poosi - 5 years ago
This was a very helpful video thx
MR. P
MR. P - 5 years ago
How big is your fish

30. comment for Fish Vs Shortboard - Which Is A Better Surfboard??

No G
No G - 5 years ago
What size would you recommend for me, I’m a 14 year old 5ft5 girl?:)
No G
No G - 5 years ago
How to Rip thanks mate x
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
Maybe around 5’10 for a beginner around 29-31L of volume :)
doudogg
doudogg - 5 years ago
Good video mate! Although I've just invested in a fish after 6 years on a shortboard and I think it's definitely more challenging on steep waves but the whole style is just different. Couldn't recommend enough to people who haven't used a fish because it's a totally different way to surf.
oldschoolwaverider
oldschoolwaverider - 5 years ago
I struggle with paddling fitness, hence the reason after 2 waves I jump on a bodyboard and catch more waves. I guess it's completely different feeling bodyboarding compared to surfing, but my legs are much stronger. Any tips to improve paddling strength?
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
numerous videos on paddling on our profile. A lot of back extension work in the gym or just surfing a lot
Oto Kage
Oto Kage - 5 years ago
i see you guys with plenty of... something on your lips and sometimes on your face. Is it sun block?
And whatever it is. Do I need sun block if I surf on winter?
Oto Kage
Oto Kage - 5 years ago
@How to Rip haha you are awesome. Now you know where youtubers are looking at: not the board, nor the technique. Da lipzzzz
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
Plenty of something on your lips is probably the best comment we’ve ever received
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
Australian sun is very intense so definitely wearing it on our faces however also ensuring we optimise exposure elsewhere for healthy vitamin D production.

It depends where you are
John Fowler
John Fowler - 5 years ago
Can you duck dive a longer fish? I'm a 5'10, 160 lbs and I'd like to try a longer fish and would love to be able to duckdive (can't dive my longboard). What's the longest fish you could duck dive? Thanks for the great videos!
Kerem
Kerem - 5 years ago
what size board did you end up getting and how did it work out for you? i'm the same weight as you and was looking at getting a 55L 6'6" fish. i'm a beginnner
John Fowler
John Fowler - 5 years ago
@How to Rip Thanks - that helps a lot!
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
Probably anything with more than 40L would start getting difficult
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
John, check out our video on duck diving. It depends on the individual, your technique, etc...Hard to say.
Michael Bassman
Michael Bassman - 5 years ago
You got your hands on a great channel name!
naturewoodfb
naturewoodfb - 5 years ago
Can you make a video about the diffrence between 3 and 5 fins?
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
Hmm maybe
Tom Mireles
Tom Mireles - 5 years ago
Informative! Thanks
kineticsurf
kineticsurf - 5 years ago
Looks like the blue fish had one of tail pins crease/break and then repaired. Seems like more than few of fish shapes w/ 4-5-6 inch deep swallow will do that. Did it break up or down? Looks like up just like all the others I have seen fail.
Henry Ordonez Jr
Henry Ordonez Jr - 5 years ago
What brand of fish might you recommend? And what size for a 140 lb male? Been surfing for a month or so and long boards are getting too easy
Don S
Don S - 5 years ago
@How to Rip What type of fish have you got here in the video? Brand / width etc? Looks interesting.
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
Any good shape. If in Oz, Frank Tachibana
SuperJohn12354
SuperJohn12354 - 5 years ago
I'm the same, what I feel helps is exercising the muscles needed for the pop up and because pop'in up is a skill just getting an old board and using it to practice pop'in up on, swimming also helps.
sanikal10
sanikal10 - 5 years ago
To practice your paddling you can practice swimming in the swimming pool.
Practice pop up every day on the floor.
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
Skateboard !!
astrosurf_fl
astrosurf_fl - 5 years ago
do a video on how to paddle out in drifty overhead beachbreaks on short period swells when the current pulls you away from the channel/rip; probably the most irritating thing i’ve encountered in surfing.
b4ssfunk3d
b4ssfunk3d - 5 years ago
@HANBANG ZOU Paddling in can be tough on big days when you know you kinda have to catch one in to get back in easily.
astrosurf_fl
astrosurf_fl - 5 years ago
HANBANG ZOU yep, sounds painful especially if your swell period rarely gets over 10 seconds like Florida hahah
HANBANG ZOU
HANBANG ZOU - 5 years ago
The hardest i reckon is how to get back when it is rock bottom and huge beach break+ backwash. Haha
astrosurf_fl
astrosurf_fl - 5 years ago
Ellis Ramey yep, you know it
Ellis Ramey
Ellis Ramey - 5 years ago
You must live on the east coast. Know your pain
How to Rip
How to Rip - 5 years ago
Can be frustrating haha comes down to being able to paddle strongly (videos in our profile)
Jonas Akyildiz
Jonas Akyildiz - 6 years ago
Great video! I was wondering what are the dims on your regular shortboard and what are you dims on your Fish?
Washington Novais
Washington Novais - 6 years ago
Nice video
Adrian Nielsen
Adrian Nielsen - 6 years ago
How much do you weigh, and what are the lengths and liters of both boards?
Adrian Nielsen
Adrian Nielsen - 5 years ago
@How to Rip That's really interesting as I thought your shortboard and fish would have the same volume except your shortboard would be around 6'. For yourself, what are your thoughts on a 6' 27 liter or 32 liter shortboard? How would those compare to your 5'6" 27 liter shortboard?
How to Rip
How to Rip - 6 years ago
I weigh approx 80kg. 5’6 JR Wraptor and a 5’6 Tachibana Fish. Fish is around 32L and the Wraptor 27
Όλιβερ Στιούαρτ
Όλιβερ Στιούαρτ - 6 years ago
Why such aggressive style on the fish and so much loading up? They're better for carving and relaxing your style a bit.
Ollie Scott
Ollie Scott - 6 years ago
@How to Rip A little contradictory as you explain the fish suits smaller waves better. Two different boards, so why surf both with the same progressive style? My point being that the video should point out that the fish is better for having a more relaxed approach to the wave and requires less work than a shortboard. Something that should've been reflected in your demonstration. Instead you're hacking the shit out of the fish and actually making it look like more work than the shortboard. Just some honest feedback. Nevertheless, very informative and looking forward to more content.
How to Rip
How to Rip - 6 years ago
easy on good slower waves. Have to work it in smaller beach break stuff.
maximidius
maximidius - 6 years ago
What would you say is an appropriate sized fish for a 179cm 87kg guy who rides a longboard ????
maximidius
maximidius - 6 years ago
How to Rip thanks dude, I was thinking around the same. There is a 43l 6’ available which would fit nicely in that bracket.
How to Rip
How to Rip - 6 years ago
Depends on ability - for an easy transition go for 40-45L or so
maximidius
maximidius - 6 years ago
Όλιβερ Στιούαρτ Awesome, thanks for answering my question.
Όλιβερ Στιούαρτ
Όλιβερ Στιούαρτ - 6 years ago
I'm aware you're probably asking the presenter, but I would say aim for a 5'10" or 5'11" with 35-40L, depending on your level and fitness. You can go less if you're super strong and advanced.
Charles Hawk
Charles Hawk - 6 years ago
Good info!!!

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