Although flashy brand new surfboards tend to cost around the 700-1000$, there’s still quite a bit of a variety of boards under the 500 dollar mark. It’s not cheap, and not too expensive for a solid surfboard! Ordering a surfboard online has never been easier. Most online stores that sell surfboards offer free shipping US-wide. Sure, it’s totally fine to support your local surf store, but by the end of the day it comes down to the choice and price of the boards, right?
The fish surfboard is a definite must-have to any surfer’s quiver, find out why:
FISH Shaped Surfboards Characteristics
- Stable
- Holds speed well on small, mushy, softer conditions
- Perfect transition board between a mid-length and a shortboard
- Average 5’6″ to 5’10” all the way up to 8’0″
- Wider outline through the nose, center, and tail
- Typically designed with a recognizable swallow-tail
- Low rocker profile
What Size Surfboard Do I Need?
The most important is to get the right type/shape surfboard for the waves, then the volume, and lastly the length of the board!
If you already have a surfboard but like to know it’s volume, check out our Slide Bar Volume Calculator
BEST FISH SURFBOARDS in 2021 UNDER $500
1. Formula Fun – 5’3″ Green Machine – $265
2. KONA – Kai Fish – $480
3. KONA – Retro Fish – $480
4. Ben Gravy – Performer – $274
5. KONA Twinner Fish – $489
6. NSP Protech Fish – $359
7. GNARLOO Flounder Plunder – $295 to $335
8. WAVE BANDIT Performer – $199 – $249
9. SALT GIPSY Shorebird – $530
1. Formula Fun – 5’3″ Green Machine
MSRP $265 Jacks Surfboards
Among the three different color schemes to choose from, the Formula Fun has managed to make awesome board by packing 42 liters of volume into a 5’3 soft top fish funboard. This board is capable of surfing the waves as long and complicated as the intro to this article, so you know what you will be dealing with.
Best suited for both groms and adults alike, this board offers endless amounts of fun in all sorts of conditions out there! Made 100% out of recyclable materials, the board desrves to be number one in this list due to its best value. Check out the rest of the features to make up your mind on it.
- Durable, Wateproof and Flexible foam (no resin needed)
- Molded Stringer System
- Wax free deck pad
- Futures Fins Included
- Made in the USA
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2. KONA – Kai Fish
MSRP $480 KonaSurf
It’s a unique performance hybrid, resembles the characteristics of a fish but can be ripped just like a shortboard. All the features make this board catch waves with ease, while the stability remains. #1: It looks good, #2 there’s plenty of customization with the fin-set up. Early take off, more speed.
First of all, Kona has arguably the coolest looking brand logo out there!
5’8″ x 20 3/4″ x 2 1/2″ @ 31.7L
5’10” x 21″ x 2 1/2″ @ 34.1L
6’2″ x 21 1/2 x 2 1/2 @ 38.4L
Different color-schemes available
- Low rocker
- Slim outline
- Full round nose
- Shallow tail with 5-futures fin set availability
- 5-fins included!
- Leash included!
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3. KONA – Retro Fish
MSRP $480 KonaSurf
Another awesome fish with characteristics of a performance shortboard. It’s a little more “fishy” compared to the previous board. The design of this board goes back to the 60-70s. This modern retro fish gives you more control over transitions and speed compared to traditional fish surfboards. Hey, it’s an awesome all-included surfboard deal under 500$ with free shipping.
5’6″ x 20″ 3/4 x 2 1/2 @ 32.3L
5’8″ x 20″ 3/4 x 2 1/2 @ 33.6L
6’0″x 21″ x 2 5/8 @ 37.8L
- Modern low rocker to prevent pearling but plenty of flat section the upper half for easy catching
- Rounded pin nose
- V Bottom Curvature and single to double concave for stable turning
- Full rail outline
- Futures quad fin set-up for speed and stability compared to traditional 2-fin fish
- 4 fins INCLUDED!
- LEASH INCLUDED
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4. Ben Gravy – Performer
MSRP $274 Wnd’n’Wvs
Ben Gravy design soft top surfboards have gathered plenty of popularity on Youtube, and here is his fish-tail foam version of the series. The 6’6 three-fin double maple wood construction has an EPS core making it ideal for beginners and advaned surfers alike.
The board is light in weight and its got a pretty relaxed outlining to have endless fun in the beach, both when the waves are flat or when there’s low/mid quality waves out there!
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5. KONA – Twinner Fish
MSRP $480 KonaSurfCo
Easy transition, perfect choice for anyone, experts and beginners alike to catch those small waves. Plenty of stable speed with a flat rocker.
5’4″x 21 3/4 x 2 1/2 @ 34.2L
5’6″ x 2 3/4 x 2 5/8 @36.7L
5’8″ x 22 1/4 x 2 5/8 @ 37.9L
5’10” x 22 3/8 x 2 3/4 @ 40.5L
Different color schemes available
- Wide nose
- Wide fishtail
- Soft egg rails
- Flat rocker
- Vee bottom curvature
- It’s a damn good fish
- Duel fins
- Two fins included
- Leash included
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6. NSP – Protech Fish
MSRP $359 NSP
A great set-up that’s got plenty of traction, down the line speed, and stability. Easy to catch waves. It’s also a Level One Eco Board Certified, which means it’s a high-performance sustainable board. It has the same technical performance attributes as any modern water-sport board while having reduced environmental and toxic impacts.”
5’6″ x 19³/⁴ x 2¹/⁸ @33.0
6’0″ x 20¹/² x 2³/⁸ @35.1
6’4″ x 21″ x 2 ¹/² @ 40.2L
6’8″ x 21¹/² x 2 ¹/² @ 43.7L
Available in Australia, North America, UK
Ideal wave size: 1ft-6ft
- Wide & Stable
- Flat rocker
- Boxy & full rails
- Wide nose
- Single to double concave
- Concave into V
- Carbon Flex Tail for added durability
- Comes with 3 fins
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7. GNARALOO – Flounder Pounder Softboard Fish
MSRP $295 – $335 Amazon
Ideal for 0-3 ft waves!
It’s easy to underestimate the capability of the board – it feels and rides like a fiberglass board. Simply overlooked by the soft shell and colorful coatings – this is one of the most underrated learning to surf surfboards. It’s a great board for the whole family or anyone who’d like to have fun on shore breaks!
5’6” 21” 3” 45 ltr – 75kg / 165lb or less (beg-int)
6’0” 21 5/8” 3 1/8” 52 ltr – 85kg / 187lb or less (beg int recommendation)
6’6” 22 3/8” 3 1/8″ 59 ltr – 95kg / 209lb or less (beg – int recommendation)
- EPS core
- PE foam layer (Thick Polyethylene deck)
- soft slick skin on the bottom
- Durable & soft – great for beginners!
- Expanded polystyrene core with TRIPLE internal stringer system – no over flex!
- The vacuum construction process eliminates hard or sharp surfaces and prevents peeling or bubbling
- Flat bottom
- Full rails
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8. WAVE BANDIT – Performer
MSRP $199 – $249 Amazon
This board’s characteristics as exactly as their look – funky and fun! One might laugh off this board, but it’s the perfect foam board for beginners-expert surfers who want to surf those small and mushy waves or have on sketchy shore-breaks. It does not cost much, but you’ll surely get a lot of fun out of it!
5’6” x 21.0” x 2.875” (42 Liters) – AMAZON
6’0″ x 21.5” x 3.0” (48 Liters) – AMAZON
6’6″ x x 22.0” x 3.125” (55 Liters) – AMAZON
- High-performance fish shape and rocker
- Twin wood Stringers
- The dual-composite core of high-pressure construction for maximum stiffness
- High-density slick bottom
- Special 4.5 inch performance thruster fin set
- Requires surf wax
- Twin set-up included
9. SALT GIPSY – Shorebird
Best fish surfboard for women!
MSRP $530 SurfIndustries
Great for: Intermediate to experienced surfers: beach/reef/point break.
Works well on small to medium waves. Easy and loose maneuverability yet still maintaining proper speed down the wave. Minimal effort, max wave count with a very groovy riding style! Super nice looking fish board for women!
5’5″ x 20″ 2 1/4″ @ 28ltr
5’8″ x 20 1/4” 2 3/8” @ 31ltr
5’11” x 20 1/2 2 1/2″ @ 34ltr
- FCS2 fin plug (NO FINS INCLUDED)
- Twin-fin
- Relaxed rocker
- A Vee to single concave
- Beak nose – additional volume under the chest
- Narrow tail
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