Nonlinear generation of the quasi-cylindrical and surface waves in terahertz frequency domain under exposure of a femtosecond laser pulse focused into a strip on a metal was studied. Competition between generated waves is determined by the value of the product of electron collision frequency and laser pulse duration. Comparison of magnetic field pulses of the quasi-cylindrical and surface waves generated on the surface is given for gold, silver, and aluminum. It is shown that far from the focusing strip the surface wave pulse contains oscillations arising due to frequency dispersion.