The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word NEARSHORE
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
N
E
A
R
S
H
O
R
E
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "just off The Strand" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case just off the strand = nearshore.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does NEARSHORE mean?
NEARSHORE noun- The region extending seaward from the shoreline.
- Non-US operations located near the US, for example in Mexico or the Caribbean.
- To move operations to locations near the US, such as Mexico or the Caribbean.