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?
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!
The fish surfboard is a definite must-have to any surfer’s quiver, find out why:
FISH Shaped Surfboards Characteristics
- Very stable
- Hold speed easily 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 Slide Bar Volume Calculator
Best Fish Surfboards in 2019
1. KONA Kai Fish – $479.99
2. KONA Retro Fish – $479.99
3. KONA Twinner Fish – $479.99
4. NSP Protech Fish – $359
5. GNARLOO Flounder Plunder – $295 – $335
6. WAVE BANDIT Performer – $199 – $249
7. SALT GIPSY Shorebird – $530
FREE SHIPPING!
FISH SURFBOARDS UNDER $500
1. KONA “Kai Fish“
review
$479.99
SIZES
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
FEATURES
Different color-schemes available
- Low rocker
- Slim outline
- Full round nose
- Shallow tail with 5-futures fin set availability
- 5-fins included!
- Leash included!
CONCLUSIONS
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!
Check out the shape introduction on YouTube
GET FROM KonaSurfCo
2. KONA “Retro Fish“
review
$479.99
SIZES
5’6″ x 20″ 3/4 x 2 1/2 @ 32.3L
5’8″ x 20″ 3/4 x 2 1/2 @ 33.6L
6’0″x 21″ x 2 5/8 @ 37.8L
FEATURES
- Modern low rocker to prevent pearling but plenty of flat section the upper half for easy catching
- Rounded pin nose
- V Bottom Curvature and single to double concave for stable turning
- Full rail outline
- Futures quad fin set-up for speed and stability compared to traditional 2-fin fish
- 4 fins INCLUDED!
- LEASH INCLUDED
CONCLUSIONS
Another awesome fish with characteristics of a performance shortboard. It’s a little more “fishy” compared to the previous board. The design of this board goes back to the 60-70s. This modern retro fish gives you more control over transitions and speed compared to traditional fish surfboards. Hey, it’s an awesome all-included surfboard deal under 500$ with free shipping.
Check out the board review on YouTube
GET FROM KonaSurfCo
3. KONA “Twinner Fish“
review
$479.99
SIZES
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
FEATURES
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
CONCLUSIONS
Easy transition, perfect choice for anyone, experts and beginners alike to catch those small waves. Plenty of stable speed with a flat rocker.
Check it out on YOUTUBE
Get from KonaSurfCo
4. NSP “Protech Fish“
review
$359
SIZES
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
FEATURES
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
CONCLUSIONS
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.”
GET FROM NSP
5. GNARALOO “Flounder Pounder“ Softboard Fish
REVIEW
$295 – $335
Ideal for 0-3 ft waves!
SIZES
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)
FEATURES
- 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
CONCLUSIONS
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 learn to surf surfboards. It’s a great board for the whole family or anyone who’d like to have fun on shore breaks!
GET FROM SurfIndustries
6. WAVE BANDIT “Performer”
review
$199 – $249
SIZES
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
FEATURES
- 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
CONCLUSIONS
This board’s characteristics as exactly as their look – funky and fun! One might laugh off this board, but it’s 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!
7. SALT GIPSY “Shorebird”
review
Best fish surfboard for women!
$530
SIZES
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
FEATURES
- FCS2 fin plug (NO FINS INCLUDED)
- Twin-fin
- Relaxed rocker
- A Vee to single concave
- Beak nose – additional volume under the chest
- Narrow tail
CONCLUSIONS
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!
See the video introduction on YouTube
Get from SurfIndustries
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T-h-e-n-x!
