Birdhits

Birdhits is a surf spot on San Clemente Island in Los Angeles County, California, USA. It’s a remote, exposed island break in the Southern California Bight, known for its rugged setting and less-accessible surf compared with mainland LA County spots.

General character

• Location: Off the coast of Southern California on San Clemente Island
• Type of break: Typically an exposed open-ocean break influenced by island reefs/points and surrounding bathymetry
• Setting: Military island with limited public access, so it’s much less surfed than mainland breaks
• Crowd factor: Usually very low because of access restrictions rather than a lack of quality

Wave and surf conditions

• Best swells: Generally works best with strong Southern Hemisphere or Pacific swell energy, depending on exposure and angle
• Wind: Like most island spots, it can be highly sensitive to wind; clean conditions usually require favorable offshore or light winds
• Wave quality: Can offer powerful, hollow, and sometimes long-walled waves when the swell lines up
• Risk level: Can be heavy and technical, especially during larger surf or with exposed reef/rocks

Access and logistics

• Access: Not a casual beach-access surf spot; getting there is the biggest challenge
• Restrictions: San Clemente Island is a U.S. Navy installation, so access is typically restricted to authorized personnel or permitted operations
• Practical note: Because of this, Birdhits is more of a charted surf location than a commonly surfed public break

Overall vibe

Birdhits has the feel of a remote, serious, and uncrowded island wave—the kind of place that can light up with the right swell and wind, but is defined as much by its isolation and access limitations as by the surf itself.