1.4ft Hs
W from · 277° · 12.7 s
CALIFORNIA / Malibu CentralSPOT / 965
Malibu First Point.
First point. Long lines.
Right-dominant34.033° N / 118.679° W
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Forecast & tide at a glance
Estimated surf face · feet · Pacific time. The existing PureSurfers face-estimation engine; not a measured or calibrated breaking-wave report.
Estimated surf face1.6 ftForecast for Thu Nov 12, 3:00am Pacific
Coastal wind3.5 mphNNW from
NOAA tide reference2.8 ftMLLW · Santa Monica
READ THE INDIVIDUAL SWELLS
Swell by swell.
Offshore component height (Hs), not surf-face height. Directions are where waves come from. Component heights do not add together.
Thu Nov 12, 3:00am Pacific
GFS · 4 components
0.6ft Hs
WSW from · 257° · 2.5 s
0.9ft Hs
SSW from · 205° · 13.9 s
0.4ft Hs
S from · 191° · 10.8 s
MFWAM · 2 components
2.4ft Hs
W from · 267° · 9.8 s
0.0ft Hs
No energy reported for this component
Each model supplies its own partitions. Missing components remain unavailable; another model’s primary swell is not automatically the same wave system.
Coastal wind retrieved Thu Nov 12, 2:45am. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.
Source retrievals: GFS Nov 12, 2:30am · ECMWF Nov 12, 2:45am · MFWAM Nov 12, 2:45am. Retrieval time is not the model issue time. This page combines all available cached model families; map model selections are separate.
Tide predictions: Santa Monica, 17 km reference; retrieved Thu Nov 12, 12:00am. Station predictions can differ locally.
Seven-day overview
| Pacific day | Estimated surf face | Mean wind | Hours available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Nov 12 | 1.7 ft | 5.4 mph | 14/14 |
| Fri Nov 13 | 2.4 ft | 5.9 mph | 14/14 |
| Sat Nov 14 | 3.5 ft | 5.8 mph | 14/14 |
| Sun Nov 15 | 2.6 ft | 6.5 mph | 14/14 |
| Mon Nov 16 | 2.6 ft | 4.6 mph | 14/14 |
| Tue Nov 17 | 2.2 ft | 4.5 mph | 14/14 |
| Wed Nov 18 | 1.7 ft | 3.5 mph | 14/14 |
Hourly details · next 72 hours
| Pacific time | Estimated surf face | Model range | Set proxy | Swell from | Wind | Tide MLLW | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 3:00am | 1.6 ft | 1.0–2.3 ft | 2.5 ft | WSW · 12.6 s | 3.5 mph NNW | 2.8 ft | 3 |
| Thu 4:00am | 1.7 ft | 1.1–2.2 ft | 2.5 ft | WSW · 12.6 s | 5.2 mph NW | 2.9 ft | 3 |
| Thu 5:00am | 1.7 ft | 1.1–2.2 ft | 2.5 ft | WSW · 12.6 s | 5.6 mph NNW | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Thu 6:00am | 1.6 ft | 1.1–2.2 ft | 2.5 ft | WSW · 12.6 s | 5.4 mph NNW | 3.8 ft | 3 |
| Thu 7:00am | 1.7 ft | 1.1–2.2 ft | 2.5 ft | WSW · 12.6 s | 4.3 mph N | 4.5 ft | 3 |
| Thu 8:00am | 1.7 ft | 1.2–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | WSW · 12.6 s | 2.7 mph NNE | 5.1 ft | 3 |
| Thu 9:00am | 1.7 ft | 1.1–2.2 ft | 2.5 ft | WSW · 12.6 s | 2.5 mph SE | 5.5 ft | 3 |
| Thu 10:00am | 1.7 ft | 1.1–2.2 ft | 2.5 ft | WSW · 12.6 s | 5.5 mph SSE | 5.6 ft | 3 |
| Thu 11:00am | 1.7 ft | 1.2–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | WSW · 12.7 s | 6.4 mph SSE | 5.2 ft | 3 |
| Thu 12:00pm | 1.7 ft | 1.2–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | WSW · 12.7 s | 6.5 mph S | 4.5 ft | 3 |
| Thu 1:00pm | 1.7 ft | 1.1–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | WSW · 12.8 s | 7.9 mph SSW | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Thu 2:00pm | 1.7 ft | 1.2–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | WSW · 12.8 s | 8.5 mph SW | 2.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 3:00pm | 1.7 ft | 1.2–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | WSW · 12.9 s | 8.2 mph WSW | 1.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 4:00pm | 1.7 ft | 1.2–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | WSW · 13.0 s | 7.4 mph WSW | 0.5 ft | 3 |
| Thu 5:00pm | 1.8 ft | 1.3–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | WSW · 13.1 s | 4.4 mph W | 0.1 ft | 3 |
| Thu 6:00pm | 1.8 ft | 1.3–2.3 ft | 2.6 ft | WSW · 13.2 s | 3.3 mph NW | 0.1 ft | 3 |
| Thu 7:00pm | 1.8 ft | 1.3–2.3 ft | 2.7 ft | WSW · 13.3 s | 3.2 mph WNW | 0.5 ft | 3 |
| Thu 8:00pm | 1.8 ft | 1.3–2.4 ft | 2.7 ft | WSW · 13.4 s | 1.9 mph W | 1.1 ft | 3 |
| Thu 9:00pm | 1.8 ft | 1.4–2.4 ft | 2.8 ft | WSW · 13.5 s | 3.8 mph ESE | 1.9 ft | 3 |
| Thu 10:00pm | 1.9 ft | 1.4–2.5 ft | 2.8 ft | WSW · 13.6 s | 6.9 mph ESE | 2.5 ft | 3 |
| Thu 11:00pm | 1.9 ft | 1.4–2.6 ft | 2.9 ft | WSW · 13.6 s | 9.3 mph SSE | 3.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 12:00am | 2.0 ft | 1.4–2.6 ft | 2.9 ft | WSW · 13.6 s | 5.5 mph ESE | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 1:00am | 2.0 ft | 1.4–2.7 ft | 3.0 ft | WSW · 13.6 s | 8.3 mph E | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 2:00am | 2.0 ft | 1.5–2.8 ft | 3.1 ft | WSW · 13.5 s | 10.3 mph E | 3.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 3:00am | 2.1 ft | 1.5–2.8 ft | 3.1 ft | WSW · 13.4 s | 15.4 mph SE | 3.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 4:00am | 2.1 ft | 1.5–2.9 ft | 3.2 ft | WSW · 13.3 s | 11.8 mph SSE | 3.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 5:00am | 2.1 ft | 1.5–2.9 ft | 3.2 ft | WSW · 13.1 s | 6.9 mph SSE | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 6:00am | 2.2 ft | 1.5–3.0 ft | 3.3 ft | WSW · 12.9 s | 5.1 mph SSE | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 7:00am | 2.2 ft | 1.5–3.1 ft | 3.3 ft | WSW · 12.8 s | 6.1 mph SE | 4.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 8:00am | 2.2 ft | 1.5–3.1 ft | 3.3 ft | WSW · 12.6 s | 6.6 mph E | 4.6 ft | 3 |
| Fri 9:00am | 2.3 ft | 1.5–3.1 ft | 3.4 ft | WSW · 12.5 s | 14.3 mph ESE | 5.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 10:00am | 2.3 ft | 1.6–3.2 ft | 3.4 ft | WSW · 12.4 s | 5.4 mph E | 5.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 11:00am | 2.3 ft | 1.6–3.2 ft | 3.5 ft | WSW · 12.2 s | 9.1 mph ESE | 5.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 12:00pm | 2.3 ft | 1.6–3.2 ft | 3.5 ft | WSW · 12.1 s | 5.5 mph E | 4.8 ft | 3 |
| Fri 1:00pm | 2.4 ft | 1.7–3.2 ft | 3.6 ft | WSW · 11.9 s | 2.5 mph S | 4.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 2:00pm | 2.4 ft | 1.7–3.2 ft | 3.6 ft | WSW · 11.6 s | 0.9 mph W | 3.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 3:00pm | 2.5 ft | 1.7–3.2 ft | 3.7 ft | WSW · 11.3 s | 2.2 mph SW | 2.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 4:00pm | 2.5 ft | 1.9–3.2 ft | 3.8 ft | WSW · 11.0 s | 5.0 mph WSW | 1.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 5:00pm | 2.6 ft | 1.9–3.2 ft | 3.8 ft | WSW · 10.9 s | 5.2 mph WNW | 0.6 ft | 3 |
| Fri 6:00pm | 2.6 ft | 2.0–3.2 ft | 3.9 ft | WSW · 10.9 s | 6.8 mph NW | 0.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 7:00pm | 2.7 ft | 2.0–3.2 ft | 4.0 ft | WSW · 10.7 s | 7.2 mph NNW | 0.4 ft | 3 |
| Fri 8:00pm | 2.8 ft | 2.3–3.3 ft | 4.3 ft | WSW · 10.1 s | 7.9 mph NW | 0.8 ft | 3 |
| Fri 9:00pm | 2.8 ft | 2.1–3.4 ft | 4.3 ft | WSW · 9.3 s | 7.5 mph WNW | 1.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 10:00pm | 3.0 ft | 2.3–3.4 ft | 4.5 ft | WSW · 8.7 s | 6.2 mph W | 2.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 11:00pm | 3.0 ft | 2.1–3.5 ft | 4.5 ft | WSW · 8.5 s | 7.9 mph W | 2.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 12:00am | 3.1 ft | 2.1–3.7 ft | 4.6 ft | WSW · 8.4 s | 7.8 mph W | 2.9 ft | 3 |
| Sat 1:00am | 3.2 ft | 2.1–3.9 ft | 4.8 ft | WSW · 8.5 s | 7.5 mph WSW | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 2:00am | 3.2 ft | 2.1–3.9 ft | 4.8 ft | WSW · 8.6 s | 9.0 mph W | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 3:00am | 3.2 ft | 2.2–4.0 ft | 4.8 ft | WSW · 8.8 s | 4.4 mph NW | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 4:00am | 3.2 ft | 2.2–4.0 ft | 4.8 ft | WSW · 9.1 s | 4.8 mph WNW | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 5:00am | 3.2 ft | 2.2–4.0 ft | 4.8 ft | WSW · 9.4 s | 5.8 mph WNW | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 6:00am | 3.3 ft | 2.3–4.0 ft | 4.9 ft | W · 9.8 s | 6.5 mph WNW | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 7:00am | 3.3 ft | 2.4–4.1 ft | 5.0 ft | W · 10.2 s | 5.6 mph WNW | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 8:00am | 3.4 ft | 2.5–4.1 ft | 5.0 ft | W · 10.8 s | 4.8 mph W | 4.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 9:00am | 3.4 ft | 2.5–4.2 ft | 5.1 ft | W · 11.4 s | 5.0 mph WSW | 4.6 ft | 3 |
| Sat 10:00am | 3.5 ft | 2.7–4.2 ft | 5.2 ft | W · 11.9 s | 5.3 mph SW | 4.8 ft | 3 |
| Sat 11:00am | 3.5 ft | 2.6–4.3 ft | 5.2 ft | W · 12.2 s | 6.2 mph SSW | 4.9 ft | 3 |
| Sat 12:00pm | 3.7 ft | 3.1–4.3 ft | 5.5 ft | W · 12.5 s | 7.0 mph S | 4.8 ft | 3 |
| Sat 1:00pm | 3.6 ft | 2.8–4.3 ft | 5.4 ft | W · 12.7 s | 7.2 mph S | 4.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 2:00pm | 3.6 ft | 3.0–4.3 ft | 5.4 ft | W · 12.8 s | 6.8 mph SSE | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 3:00pm | 3.6 ft | 2.9–4.4 ft | 5.4 ft | W · 12.9 s | 6.4 mph SE | 2.8 ft | 3 |
| Sat 4:00pm | 3.6 ft | 2.8–4.3 ft | 5.3 ft | W · 12.9 s | 6.8 mph SE | 2.0 ft | 3 |
| Sat 5:00pm | 3.6 ft | 2.9–4.3 ft | 5.4 ft | W · 12.9 s | 5.5 mph ESE | 1.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 6:00pm | 3.6 ft | 2.9–4.3 ft | 5.3 ft | W · 12.9 s | 3.8 mph ESE | 0.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 7:00pm | 3.5 ft | 2.8–4.3 ft | 5.3 ft | W · 12.9 s | 4.5 mph E | 0.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 8:00pm | 3.5 ft | 2.8–4.3 ft | 5.3 ft | W · 12.9 s | 5.4 mph E | 0.6 ft | 3 |
| Sat 9:00pm | 3.4 ft | 2.7–4.2 ft | 5.2 ft | W · 12.9 s | 5.3 mph E | 0.9 ft | 3 |
| Sat 10:00pm | 3.4 ft | 2.7–4.2 ft | 5.1 ft | W · 12.8 s | 5.2 mph E | 1.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 11:00pm | 3.4 ft | 2.6–4.2 ft | 5.0 ft | W · 12.7 s | 4.9 mph E | 2.0 ft | 3 |
| Sun 12:00am | 3.3 ft | 2.5–4.1 ft | 4.9 ft | W · 12.6 s | 5.3 mph E | 2.6 ft | 3 |
| Sun 1:00am | 3.2 ft | 2.4–4.1 ft | 4.8 ft | W · 12.5 s | 5.2 mph ENE | 3.0 ft | 3 |
| Sun 2:00am | 3.2 ft | 2.3–4.0 ft | 4.7 ft | W · 12.4 s | 5.3 mph ENE | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Sun 3:00am | 3.1 ft | 2.3–4.0 ft | 4.7 ft | W · 12.3 s | 5.4 mph NE | 3.4 ft | 3 |
Model spread is not a confidence interval. Tide and wind are context, not new corrections to surf size. Larger sets and changing hazards remain possible.
This page reads the shared cache first. Refresh requests only this spot’s existing regional samples.
Know the spot
The legendary soft first point at Surfrider.
Also known as First Point.
- Break type
- Point
- Wave direction
- Right-dominant
- Reported difficulty
- Beginner–intermediate
- Bottom
- Cobble, reef & rock
- Reported swell preference
- S, SW, WSW
- Reported tide preference
- Low–mid
This entry is mapped as a searchable surf zone rather than a claim of one frozen takeoff. Expect shifts with sand, tide, swell angle and crowd pressure.
Before paddling out: Currents, crowding, submerged reef or cobble, water-quality changes after rain, and shifting bars.
Public access Reference-corrected coastal area; approximate takeoff, not surveyed
Source references
- Regional surf guide — Ventura to Orange County corridor ↗
- Open-Meteo Marine API ↗
- NOAA CO-OPS Data API — tide predictions ↗
- Apple Maps — Malibu Point landmark ↗
- LA County Beaches — Malibu Surfrider ↗
- California Coastal Trail — Malibu Lagoon ↗
- Surfline — Malibu Third Point swell-direction guide ↗
Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.
THE FIELD GUIDE / Malibu First Point
Read this stretch of coast.
What defines this setup
Malibu First Point is catalogued as point, with right-dominant waves over cobble, reef & rock. Those details explain why the same offshore height can feel different here than at the next beach. Use the map to orient yourself, then watch how the sets actually meet the bottom and where the ride opens or closes. The catalogue is a starting description, not a surveyed takeoff.
What to compare before you go
The retained swell preference is S, SW, WSW; the reported tide preference is Low–mid. Start with the component panel: check whether the stronger incoming swell is in that directional window and whether a second system approaches from a different angle. Then compare wind and water level for the same hour. These are planning comparisons, not new corrections applied to the displayed surf-face estimate.
A useful shore check
The reported difficulty is Beginner–intermediate. Look at the interval between sets, the distance a surfer drifts while waiting, the room available to enter and exit, and whether the waves connect through the intended section. Catalogue hazards include Currents, crowding, submerged reef or cobble, water-quality changes after rain, and shifting bars. If the session you see differs from the forecast, record that difference with the time and setup; it is information for the next visit, not a reason to force today’s session.
A useful note for next time
Record the section you actually surfed, the time, incoming swell direction and period, wind and tide trend. Add what the wave did: connected sections, closeouts, drift or exposed obstacles. Comparing that observation with the same model next time is more useful than treating one colored number as the whole session.
Camera references nearby
Malibu Point / Surfrider ↗
HDOnTap / Swell Magnet · about 0.1 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Published Malibu Point surf camera; framing may roam.
Topanga Beach ↗
The Surfers View · about 9.1 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Published Topanga surf-camera page.
Links to third-party camera pages, not owned feeds. Proximity does not confirm the camera sees this break. Playback and image freshness have not been verified by this page.
Make the next session easier
Lineup etiquette · Paddling technique · How these forecasts work
Nearby spots to compare
PureSurfers is built by Peter Ochabski. Spot profiles combine retained sources and contributor observations; this is not a claim he has surfed or verified every entry.
COASTAL WAVE GUIDANCE
Waves at the model cells
1.71–3.08 ftSignificant wave height (Hs) before the legacy spot reduction. This is not a measured breaking-face or set range.
Nearshore and buoy trends load here. Coverage and observation times are shown separately.