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

Alright, folks, Rusty here. I’ve looked at the only spot in the mix, and it’s a dead zone for the next 16 days. There’s no good surf on offer. The break is El Canal (Rio de Bayamon), a river mouth that rarely breaks, and when it does, the conditions are all wrong.

The whole forecast is a string of "poor surf conditions." The wind is a constant problem – a moderate to fresh breeze from the East or East-Northeast, keeping it cross-off or cross-shore. No clean, glassy glass. The swell is tiny, almost always under 4 ft, with a short period of 6 to 8 seconds, meaning weak, choppy waves. The combined swell energy is mostly weak, with values like 169 (moderate) and 86 (weak) – not enough to get excited about.

From Saturday, August 8, through Monday, August 11, we’re looking at 3 ft to 4 ft of short-period ENE swell. The wind is up at 15 to 18 mph, so it’s messy. No chance. The water temperature isn’t given, so I can’t say if it’s warm or cold for the time of year, but it doesn’t matter.

Things get a bit bigger around Friday, August 14, with the swell hitting 7 ft from the ENE and a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 440 (moderate) and 485 (moderate). But here’s the rub – the wind is howling at 22 mph from the East. That’s a fresh breeze, and while it’s cross-off, it’s strong. For a beginner spot like El Canal, 7 ft is too big, and for the experienced, the short period and strong wind would make it a bumpy, unruly mess. The setup is a sheltered river, so it might be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing in those conditions.

The second week, from August 17 onward, the swell drops off again. There’s a weird spike on August 17 with a 14-second period from the East, but it’s only 3 ft, and the combined energy is 504 (moderate). The wind is cross-shore, and the period is long, but the size is too small. The rest of the week is tiny – 1.0 ft to 2 ft – with weak energy and consistent offshore winds. It’s clean, but there’s no wave.

So, what’s the best on offer? I’m struggling. If I had to pick a moment, the morning of Friday, August 14, with 7 ft swell and cross-off wind is the most powerful, but it’s a short-period, wind-affected mess. Not a standout. The afternoon of August 17 has a 5 ft swell with a 12-second period and lighter wind at 12 mph, but the combined energy is 794 (moderate) and the wind is cross-shore, so it’s still not clean. The best I can say is keep an eye on that August 17 window, but it’s a long shot.

Forget about it for now. The area is in a blank run, and it’s not unusual for a spot that rarely breaks to have a spell like this. Forecasts can change, but I wouldn’t hold your breath. If you’re desperate, maybe check the kite gear.

Rusty.

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