Haggerty's

Surf Guide

Important message from everyone at Haggerty's: this is a performance wave. Take your longboards over to the cove. Probably the best-shaped wave in the PV area, Haggerty's takes all north and west swells from 3 to 15 feet and grooms them into a classic left point/reef with three takeoff zones. Lower Haggerty's Inside leftovers that peel through here act more as a relief valve on the pack at Haggerty's than anything else. Fun mushy lefts that need a sizable swell to squeak into this corner of the bay. The first of the PV reef breaks, Rat Shit actually starts inside of this spot (Rat being "Right after Torrance"). Haggerty's (Hag's) Always a shade smaller than spots farther out at the Cove, Hag's makes it up in shape. Becomes a beautiful, 100-yard left on a solid west. It starts to work at 3 feet, but only if you're willing to risk shallow rocks in the cramped take-off zone. On smaller days, the regular crew leans toward the young and the restless. Expect to be snaked, and out-snaked, as you play priority leapfrog near the rocks. On larger swells, the pack spreads out with a more senior influence. Would be a good location for coin-operated stadium lights for night surfing. Upper Haggerty's (Middles) On the largest direct west, Uppers appears as a deceptively perfect left point. A longer, faster and much more consequential barrel than Hag's, Uppers needs at least a 6-foot swell to clear the rocks in the lineup. When conditions are just right, it's one of those paddle-jump-and-run waves, where only the fastest, or the foolhardy, attempt it from farther back. Most scamper for the safety of the shoulder. There's more of the same even farther out around the point at Exiles (Indicator). The parking lot at Malaga Cove Prep offers a great view of this whole area, making first-timers wonder, "Man, how come nobody's out there?" Typically, these two spots are closeouts that leave unsuspecting victims on the rocks. That's how come. (Scene from Forrest Gump: Bubba, splayed out on the shore, dying in the arms of his friend, "What happened, Forrest?" "You blew the take-off, Bubba.")