Soulac.

Soulac sits at the northern tip of the Médoc peninsula where the Gironde estuary meets the Atlantic, and that rivermouth geography defines everything about how it surfs. The estuary outflow constantly reshapes offshore sandbanks, producing peaks that are notably more compact and hollow than the open beach breaks further south. Both lefts and rights peel off the banks, with the wave steepening quickly off the takeoff and running fast through a 50-100m face before closing out - not a wave for hesitation. It works across all states of tide, though the Stormrider data points to outgoing water as the optimal window, when the estuary flow helps groom the banks and trim the faces. Swell range is 0.3-1.8m on a normal day, needing a solid NW push to get the best out of the banks. Offshore on a SE wind, which is the prevailing clean-up direction for this stretch of coast. The beach itself is accessible via a free car park, with a straightforward paddle out, but surfers should read the current situation before committing - swirling estuary flows here don't behave like standard beach rips. The rocky reef section called 'les piscines' to the north is the main positional hazard. Crowds are generally light, this is not a destination spot, and the inconsistency keeps it quiet mid-week. When it fires on a good NW swell, it punches well above its low-key reputation.

Estuary banks that hollow and close before you're halfway through the face.