Haggerty's surf guide
Surf: General: Probably the best-shaped wave in the Palos Verdes 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 different takeoff zones:Lower Haggerty'sInside leftovers that peel through here act more as a relief valve for 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 reefbreaks, Rat 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 up for it in shape. 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.Upper Haggerty's (Middles)On a 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).
Tides: all
Size: Chest high to 3x overhead
Wind: S, SE, E
Swell: WSW, W, WNW (has to be big and preferably mid period)
Bottom: Rock/kelp
Paddling: Wave only really works at size, so count on a lot of paddling.
Spot Rating: Rippable left point when it's on.
Access: Down cliffs at Malaga Cove School.
Crowds: Crowd Factor: Always crowded.
Local Vibe: Rowdy punks and worldly elders.
Environment: It's right outside of the city and can get particularly bad after a rainfall.
Hazards: Slippery trails, heavy locals.
Season: October-April