Point Mugu Nobody knew. The place was a genuine secret spot. Other than the occasional magazine photo displaying a flawless, cold water A-frame, the break was a relative mystery to the general surfing population. For all we knew, the waters off Point Mugu were testing grounds where the United States Navy was breeding mutant shark creatures. And then something happened. During the mid-90s, the word got out about this mysto beachbreak that was combing offshore during the prevailing afternoon winds and funneled in south swell activity. Flash forward a few years and the spot's as packed as Walmart during the day after Thanksgiving sale. What was once a haven for a select few, is now a mecca for southern California wave riders when a south swell pops up on the buoys. The waves are still there, but unfortunately, now there's a crowd to contend with. The only remaining barrier to prevent an all out feeding frenzy, is that the property is still owned by Uncle Sam -- and unless you've got a pass, a friend, or some connections, you're still going to have one heck of hard time surfing Point Mugu. Like many high quality breaks, Point Mugu is the function of an offshore canyon. Calleguas Creek, which feeds Mugu Lagoon, has been carving away at the sea floor here for the last few million years. This liquid shovel has created the underwater landscape responsible for the phenomenal surfing conditions. Southern hemisphere swells come rising out of the canyon and approach the beach at a unique angle -- almost sideways. This refracted wave influence interacts with the primary lines, and morphs the would-be walled up surf into a bonanza of wedging peaks. Because of this unique angle of approach as well as the shape of the coastline here, the afternoon breezes which typically blow from a northwesterly direction, are actually side-offshore along this isolated stretch of beach. Please note that Santa Ana easterlies will shred the waves into oblivion. You've got to have winds from a northerly origin. Furthermore, keep in mind that a lower tide is preferred here. High tides cause the waves to break dangerously close to the seawall. This is not only a serious hazard, but the immense backwash that's created adversely effects the surf quality.