All three catch small waves; they differ in what you do once you are up. Longboard for trim and wave count, midlength for the middle ground, fish for turns in weak surf once you can already surf.
| Fish / hybrid | Midlength | Longboard | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 5'4" to 6'4" | 6'8" to 8'6" | 8'8" and up |
| Liters at 75 kg, intermediate | 40 | 50 | 63 |
| Paddles | ok | well | best |
| Catches waves | late and close | early | earliest |
| Turns | quick, loose | drawn out on the rail | slow, from the tail |
| Best for | surfers already turning | progressing, points, mush | small slow waves, wave count |
| Listings now | 3,444 | 3,123 | 2,288 |
If the goal is more waves and long rides, the longboard wins every time and the fish loses. If the goal is learning to turn on the rail, the midlength is the honest step. The fish is the fun board for someone who can already surf and wants a short board for the days a shortboard will not go.
Whichever family, size it by the calculator range for that family rather than by length.
Browse fish → Browse midlengths → Browse longboards →
More guides: Beginner board size · Soft-top or hard board · How many liters is too many · Foamie to fiberglass.