when is the swell period too short?

I know it varies according to many factors. What is a general number for you? Last week there wasn't much swell but the period was forecasted at 9 sec. It was pretty unstable out there. Do you use a general guideline?

I know it varies according to many factors. What is a general number for you? Last week there wasn't much swell but the period was forecasted at 9 sec. It was pretty unstable out there. Do you use a general guideline?

In general, the longer the swell period the better for us yakers.  Below 5 second is getting dicey for some of us 

I know it varies according to many factors. What is a general number for you? Last week there wasn't much swell but the period was forecasted at 9 sec. It was pretty unstable out there. Do you use a general guideline?

In general, the longer the swell period the better for us yakers.  Below 5 second is getting dicey for some of us 

+1000, the longer the period the better, I believed there are 2 swell, large one (longer better) and small one (shorter OK) the larger gap between the 2 the better. 

http://www.surfline.com/surf-science/swell-period---forecaster-blog_17564/

in general are we just more concern with the swell? the place where we usually fish always seems to have the same period around 8 seconds. but it's not the same each time I head out there even dough it's 2-4ft swell. there has to be other factors contributing to why one weekend is rougher than another even it's has almost same conditions. or the prediction is off.

I thought that *in general* longer periods are worse for surf launch/landing..?

For a given swell height, a longer period swell will produce bigger breaking waves.

BUT, the longer period waves will be further apart, and generally arranged in "sets" of like sized waves. The lulls between sets can make for easy launches and landings if your timing is good. If your timing is bad, the waves that hit you will be much stronger than those of a short period swell.

in general are we just more concern with the swell? the place where we usually fish always seems to have the same period around 8 seconds. but it's not the same each time I head out there even dough it's 2-4ft swell. there has to be other factors contributing to why one weekend is rougher than another even it's has almost same conditions. or the prediction is off.

Swell direction must also be a factor...

in general are we just more concern with the swell? the place where we usually fish always seems to have the same period around 8 seconds. but it's not the same each time I head out there even dough it's 2-4ft swell. there has to be other factors contributing to why one weekend is rougher than another even it's has almost same conditions. or the prediction is off.

Swell direction must also be a factor...

it's NW most of the time. but i definitely agree the direction is important.

Longer period south swells can pound the beaches at our usual launch sites up here.

Longer period south swells can pound the beaches at our usual launch sites up here.

+1.

And for diving, longer period often translates to more/stronger surge underwater.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Agree on the south swell. Everytime there is south swell i have a bad day, bad conditions, seasick, and no fish. Going to try to avoid going out any places with a southern swell.

From what have learned, longer periods move more water, thus more powerful waves at a launch/land. But this is favorable to us as kayakers when we are actually out in the open ocean.

I'm talking fishing not launching. There wasn't much swell last week but it was a shorter period. I assume the shorter the period the steeper the face, and rougher the ride.

Do you use a general guideline?

I often look at Surf-Forecast and check the forcasted wave energy for where I'm going to launch/land.

If it's around 400kJ it starts to get bumpy, but usually no problems.
If it's 800kJ or above I won't usually go unless it's in a harbor launch in the AI.
Mixed direction swell days seem to be the bumpiest.

Of course the period makes a big difference at the beach.  I've seen a 3ft swell at 15 sec. create quite an impressive break at Timber Cove.  Easy to time if you pay attention and wait for the opening, exciting if you get it wrong.

Longer period south swells can pound the beaches at our usual launch sites up here.

Yup...
Big S swell at Doran for instance means surfs up.