Ray Bay

DESCRIPTION: Ray Bay is a sand-bottomed river mouth break at the San Gabriel River outlet in Seal Beach, with three distinct peaks separated by jetties: a section near the south wall, a central peak that forms a long right wall similar to a point break, and a north wall zone. The break works best during incoming and medium tides, with huge west swells producing the most consistent waves and south swells generating smaller but enjoyable rights. Morning conditions are typically glassy; light offshore winds from the southwest ideal. The spot is accessible to surfers of mixed abilities and typically draws few crowds.

Seal Beach emerged as a surf destination in the early 20th century and hosted the mainland's first surfing competition in 1920. Ray Bay gained prominence in the early 1960s as surfers discovered that warm water discharged from nearby power plants made winter sessions more comfortable. Blackie August taught local children to surf here, and his son Robert August later became famous as one of the stars of Bruce Brown's 1966 film Endless Summer.

Ray Bay is located at the mouth of the San Gabriel River along the Seal Beach shoreline. The river mouth configuration creates a natural gathering point for round stingrays, which use the area as a nursery ground, making it the most notable stingray hotspot in the region. The warm water that once made Ray Bay attractive for winter surfing came from power plant discharge, a feature no longer present today. Pollution remains a consideration, and strong northwest currents can develop in the channel.