El Canal (Rio de Bayamon) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for your stretch of coast. Let’s be straight with each other – there’s not a lot to get excited about in the next 16 days. The only place with any real pulse is El Canal (Rio de Bayamon), but even that’s a rare bird that barely breaks. We’re looking at a long stretch of flat or poor conditions, so keep your expectations in check.

The first real nod to surf comes right at the end of the month. On the morning of Monday, 31 August, there’s a pulse of ENE swell around 6 ft, with a period of 10 seconds, coming in from the ENE. The combined wave energy is moderate (530). That’s a solid size, but it’s pushing into the “too big for beginners” territory. The wind is offshore from the SSE at 12 mph, which is a major positive – it’ll keep the river mouth clean. Water temperature is sitting at 85°, which is a touch above the long-term average for this time of year, so it’s comfortably warm. But here’s the catch at El Canal: it’s a river break that’s sheltered and rarely breaks. When it does, it’s inconsistent. Crowds are sometimes a problem, so if you’re keen, get there early. The swell direction is ENE, and the optimum swell direction for this spot is from the north, so it’s not a perfect match. The afternoon of the 31st drops to 4 ft with a 9-second period and moderate energy (277), still with offshore wind, but the quality is only ordinary.

After that, it’s a steep drop-off. From Tuesday, 1 September, through to the end of the forecast, the swell is tiny – mostly under 3 ft, with periods as low as 5 seconds. The combined energy barely registers, often in the double digits. The wind is mostly cross-off or cross-shore, and the conditions are consistently described as “poor.” There’s no real standout to recommend. The 16-day window is a long, flat gap for any meaningful surf.

If you’re a kite surfer, the afternoon of Sunday, 30 August, has a 5 ft swell with a 7-second period and moderate energy (239), but the cross-shore wind from the NE at 16 mph makes it more of a kite setup than a paddle one. For the rest of us, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more