Haggerty's

Haggerty's is a left-hand break built on a boulder and rock-strewn point at Malaga Cove that generates between 3 and 15 feet on northwest and west-facing swells. The break features multiple takeoff zones along the point and works across all tidal stages, though the takeoff area remains cramped and technical. Winter months from November through April see the most consistent and powerful waves here as the point captures full-faced northwest swells. Sea urchins and exposed rock shelf make wipeouts painful, and the compressed takeoff zone becomes increasingly crowded during quality sessions.

The spot has been actively surfed since at least the 1930s, becoming a recognized gathering place for organized surf clubs during the 1960s and 1970s. Historically, Haggerty's was considered a challenging and skills-demanding wave in the late 1950s and early 1960s before modern leash technology—losing a board to the rocks meant real consequences. The break's reputation grew as part of the larger Palos Verdes surf culture, which developed a distinct identity during California's golden age of coastal surfing.

Access comes from a parking area at Paseo Del Mar and Via Arroyo, where the Malaga Cove Trail descends through a private beach club property down to the rocky cove. The break sits where the sandy beach transitions to a rock shelf scattered with tide pools. Alternatively, walkers can approach south along Torrance County Beach at most tidal conditions, moving around the sand-to-rock transition toward the point.