This is only one persons perspective and not the right or wrong way but it has worked nicely for a couple winters on the busiest stretch of coast with the most aggressive surfers in the World.
First off, when I arrive at the beach and its crowded I'm not even thinking about being in that lineup. If I wasn't already out by the time people arrive I'm going somewhere else... This is how I've been surfing for the last 30 years so nothing new here. Just not into crowds.
My daily surf usually goes like this.... Dawn patrol and try to be the first one out. Hustle and catch every perfect set wave till someone else comes out. If no one comes out for 20 minutes, you will of gotten plenty by then... As people come out I'm toning it down and moving over to the inside or to another peak. Still getting plenty waves but not the ones people want. I let the crowd push me out. Crowd fills in more and I'm outta there to the next empty spot or by then I may already be done.
Other cool sessions will involve long paddles into no mans land type areas where we score crazy good waves. Waaay better than people even know about but only worth going on a ski or with a SUP board. Sometimes when the waves are solid and there are consequences the crowds are not even a factor especially at remote spots. Pick and choose different places to adventure off the beaten track.
Some cool comments I got over the winter were, "Man, you could get any wave you want but you always go for the junk ones. You always let us have the good ones." Little do they know I was out early and already got a bunch of set waves. They also don't know waves they consider junk are still super fun on a stand up...
The best comment I ever got was on a day there must of been 60+ people but no one was sitting way way deep. I was almost taking off at another spot. I must of caught over 30 waves and kept coming back through the regular crowded lineup on the way back out... On one of the passes another long time regular says, "Everytime I turn around you're paddling back out. Where are you coming from? Its like you're invisible!" Always nice to appear to be invisible...
Another thing that works nice is when you sit down between waves. Its a natural feeling when someone stands over you to feel threatened or think you are trying to be dominant. By towering over people it sends out a negative message like you are trying to be superior or you are perched and ready to get everything in sight. By sitting you are sending off the message that you are relaxing and in no hurry to get every wave. When around others forget the macho hype about standing the whole time you're out. Sit down, relax....
By surfing shorter boards we are surfing from the inside out instead of the outside in. Here's an example... If you're on a big board you are forced to stay on the outside because turning around takes awhile and getting in early is the only way to take off safely. On a big board you are forcing yourself to only get set waves right thru the pack. On shorter SUP boards you can stand inside and spin around right as the wave is in front of you. You can still get in super early but now you have another option of hanging inside. Because the board is shorter you can take off when its steep and late. This opens up way more waves to you. A lot of times I stand inside regular surfers and watch what they don't go for. All the ones they don't want I go after. Because they're facing out to sea, most times they don't even know you're there. On the way back out if no one is around you can spin on a dime and go... Some sessions I'll only surf inside of everyone. Its like being out alone.
The key is to have an awareness of your individual impact on the situation your in. Have basic common sense. Be honest with yourself... What are your true abilities? Are you a danger to others? Is this your local spot where you are more accepted? Do you know the area well? What are your options? When caught inside what are you going to do? Where is your escape route? Are there other SUP surfers that aren't aware? Talk to them. Let them know if they are being dangerous or stupid. Send them to this site to read things that could help them. I hope this can help and shed some light on what will always be a touchy subject.
Aloha,
Blane