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

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

Honestly, it’s a pretty grim stretch for the next 16 days around here. We’re only talking about one spot, El Canal (Rio de Bayamon), and it’s a river break that rarely breaks at all. The whole 16-day window is a write-off for anything decent, with every single session marked as "poor surf conditions." There isn’t a single standout day to recommend. The pattern is the same: small, weak swell and a constant moderate to fresh breeze from the east, which is cross-off at best. The combined swell energy is weak, mostly under 100 (72, 96, 45) and only occasionally nudging into the low triple digits (133, 164). The swell period is short, between 6-8 seconds, which means weak, crumbly waves. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

Now, keep in mind that this is a river mouth, and it’s sheltered from the swell. The optimum swell direction is from the north, but we’re getting constant ENE and E windswell. The wind is always blowing at 12 to 18 mph, so even when it’s "clean," it’s not going to be good. The whole thing looks a lot more like a kiteboarding setup than a paddle surf spot if you ask me.

There’s a gap of flatness from the start right through to the end. The first few days are just tiny slop, and it doesn’t get any better. Even the bigger readings toward the end of the second week, around 14th and 15th of August, with swell heights of 5 feet, come with a stiff 18 mph cross-off wind and a combined energy of 228 to 274, which is still only moderate. The period is still short at 7 seconds, so it’s just choppy, messy windswell. For a break that rarely breaks, this is a total blank run. It’s normal for this area to have long stretches with nothing to offer.

Keep your gear waxed, but don’t bother checking the buoys. This one is a washout.

Rusty.

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