Wind

It always seems to be a good +5mph less than surline reckons
Usually from the west, south-west or south during storm conditions
Offshore days (that still have discernible swell!) only usually happen on the last day or two after storm conditions

Swell

Almost always some flavour of south-westerly.

Beach break (map)
Breaks left or right depending on which side of the jetty (hot water pipe from the power station) looks better when you pull up
Wind: South-facing, so usually cross-shore or onshore
Tide: I prefer low-mid (~2.2m). Mid (+2.7m) usually means you’re sufing the inside but this is also what a lot of locals do. Definitely low tides when it’s tiny/offshore/long-period
Over 20mph cross-shore and you’re better off going to New beach
Convenient paid parking right in front
Can line up a bit, depends on what the sandbars are doing

Beach break (map)
Wind: South-facing, so usually cross-shore or onshore
Tide: I prefer low-mid (~2.2m). Mid (+2.7m) usually means you’re sufing the inside but this is also what a lot of locals do. Definitely low tides when it’s tiny/offshore/long-period
Generally ~1ft bigger than Shoreham Beach Green or Lancing
Peaks breaking all over the place
The harbour can provide a bit of shelter from westerly winds between up to 30mph
If wind is <20mph the hot pipe is ususally prefereable because of parking
Parking is quite inconvenient as it’s a 10min walk from Carats carpark (paid)

Harbour wall break (no map or entry/exit guide as this is a bit of a secret spot)
Wind: Ususally protected from the wall – even in 50mph winds!
Tide: Generally, the lower the tide the better. Low spring tides even better. Even when it’s big, getting near mid (2.5m) will be too high
Shelter from the harbour means it only works in big storm conditions. “+4ft” on Surfline
South-westerly wind is best, west is ok, southerly through to east is unsurfable
Weird wave. Long, but often just straight down the wall towards the beach surfing it as a right. Sometimes it can wall up with decent section further into the harbour
The wall is sketchy as fuck – not for the faint-hearted
Convenient paid parking at Shoreham fort

Beach break (map)
Usually ~1ft smaller than other local spots
Wind: South-facing, so usually cross-shore or onshore
Tide: Low-mid (~2.2m) to mid (+2.7m). Definitely low tides when it’s tiny/offshore/long-period
Peaks breaking all over the place
Only worth it if conditions are okay and you want to avoid a crowd
Easy/free parking on the road

Beach/reef break (map)
Usually ~1ft smaller than other local spots
Tide: Low-mid (~2.2m) to mid (+2.7m). Definitely low tides when it’s tiny/offshore/long-period
Wind: Beach is slightly south-east facing, so slightly more chance of offshore (compared to other local spots) when it’s blowing westerly/north-westerly
Peaks breaking all over the place
There is a small “reef” made of large pebbles dumped in the sea in front of the bandstand/beach houses – makes for a fun wave (full guide)
Convenient paid parking at Perch cafe