By thesoothsayers , 27-05-2009

Stumps - I have surfed there since the 70s. The stumps are now gone, but they have reappeared at the old Rands beach. They have been covered with sand. I remember when the australian pine went right down to the water and we had to wade through the stumps and mud to get to the waves. And yes, there are sharks during certain times of year. But, it is worth the waves and avoiding all the pin heads. We use to paddle across the ICW in high school to surf there the waves were so good.

By Paul , 12-05-2008

sharks! - sharkiest spot in Florida without a doubt, whcih puts it high on the list of sharkiest surf spots worldwide. New Smyrna ain't got nuthin' on this place in the fin count, you just don't hear about it as much because it's rare that anyone is even in the water here. i've witnessed multiple 6'+ tiger sharks in the water at one time, entire schools of spinners on feeding frenzies, you name it. a few miles south there is a kid who paddles out on his canoe to drop his lines on the outer reef ledge and pulls up sharks all day, every day. ask some of the local fishermen and they'll tell you the surfers are crazy for even paddling out in these waters, and every surfer in this area has at least one shark story that would make the hair rise on the back of your neck the next time you're siting outside all alone. in between all the sharks and all the reef, with the outer cloudbreak reef firing more than a half mile offshore, all the baitfish overflow from the nearby inlet, and the generally deserted feel of the whole stretch makes this one of the creepiest places to surf in Florida. but are the waves worth it? you'll have to get there to find out. don't come alone, if you get bitten there is nobody around to help you, and no roads for miles, so you'd probably have to be air-lifted. oh yeah, watch out for the reef too, it's shallower and sketchier than you think.

By Anonymous , 05-10-2007

have fun! - there's actually a few sandbar/reef setups in the 5 mile stretch that have affectionately been referred to as "Stumps" at one point or another, but the one this is referring to is the real Stumps. it has held any size swell that mother nature has thrown at it in recent memory. on bigger days, be prepared for more than a 1/4 mile paddle through shark-infested lines of powerful white-water that relentlessly pound you during your 20+ minute paddle to the outside, and there's no shortcut or easy way out (unless maybe you got a ski). being in good shape is a must here. i'm in excellent shape and i've come close to drowning here on more than one occasion, and you're a couple miles from the closest road. that being said, it can dish up island-like juice for those who are determined and patient. crowds are never an issue, and us locals need not be feared, but have respect, or this place will teach you respect the hard way.