How can I tell when there will be good waves for surfing?

I live in Orlando, so the closest surfing is at least 45 minutes away. I want to plan a little trip to go surfing, but I don't really know how to tell very far ahead, cause most surf forecasts only give a few days ahead. I'm really amateur, so I don't need any crazy waves, I just want to know the waves aren't going to be terrible. Is there any way I can figure it out so I can plan ahead?|||I also live in central Florida and consistently use http://cflsurf.com/ which provides a variety of links all over Florida.





As far as gulf coast reports, use http://www.gulfster.com/ and


http://www.mrsurfs.com/surf_report.php





Surfline is not bad, but to get a good report you have to pay, and there are plenty of free reports out there, but surfline.com is there if you are into paying





Northern/central east Florida's best surf reports are Blue sky, http://www.blueskysurfshop.com/report/


The most detailed is http://www.surf-station.com/content/inde鈥?/a>





Cocoa Beach is closest to Orlando and some surf reports are http://biltsurfandskate.com/surfreport


AND http://www.2ndlight.com/





For more advanced reports that are very specific and up to date include Magicseaweed.com and my personal favorite, http://www.swellinfo.com/surf-forecast/f鈥?/a>





Typically, East Florida has cleanest surf when the wind is West. The waves are typically largest on East winds. Also the surf is best when it is a low incoming tides usually.|||dude, the surf report is the best way. if you have to travel some distance you need to find a place that has fair waves on any given day.|||dude, I find anything to do with nature


best to close down the thinking and follow heart-gut-instinct, part of ourselves


feel it


be one with it and you will just know when to be


no separation dude|||I always check out my local surf report and surf camera's online before i head to the beach; even though im only a 15 minute drive i still check. Also watching your local weather reports during the news can give you an indication of wind direction, swell etc.|||Check out Surfline





The Surfboard Man


http://www.thesurfboardman.com/|||SURFLINE or SURFWATCH|||The reason surf forecasts are only at the most,three days out in advance is because just about any forecast more the 24 hours out is really up in the air,mother nature chooses what she wants to do and weather patterns are constantly changing.





Here's what you do.





Forecasting surf is alot harder then most think it really is.You have towatch winds over a given area of the ocean and pay close attention to the "Fetch" and direction.Then there are the great circles,bottom contours (continental shelf also) local winds,swell height and swell period,tides etc.





http://www.stormsurf.com/page2/tutorials鈥?/a>





^ Read and learn my friend and soon you will be pinpointing a swell to hit a certain break at a certain time and be damn near spot on with size and interval.