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The new-look WSL Finals, to decide the men's and women's world titles, has been delayed another 24 hours due to fog at the Lower Trestles surf break.

Fog has prevented the World Surf League Finals day getting underway at Lower Trestles in California, with the wait to decide the world titles stretching another 24 hours.

Stephanie Gilmore will gun for a record eighth crown, while fellow Australian Olympian Sally Fitzgibbons is also in the women's top five field.

Morgan Cibilic was the fifth and final man to qualify as Australia's only representative.

With the event windowing opening September 9 until 17, it looked like the title would be decided Monday local time (Tuesday AEST), with competition placed on "yellow alert".

But a heavy fog enveloped the famed point break with organisers making a final call at 9am to delay a further day.

Chest to overhead high waves are predicted for the new-look one-day marathon session to decide both the women's and men's titles for the first time.

"The fog is not lifting so we're going to be off for today and remain on yellow for tomorrow," said Jessie Miley-Dyer, the WSL's head of competition.

Gilmore is waiting to take on France's Johanne Defray in the opening clash of the women's event.

But as fourth seed, she will need to beat four surfers in the one day to win the title, including top-seeded Hawaiian Carissa Moore who is already waiting in the best-of-three heat final.

Fifth-ranked Cibilic takes on fourth seed American Connor Coffin in the opening men's clash.

Men's competition leader Gabriel Medina is seeded straight through to the title decider.