Bagasse (Martinique)
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Bagasse is an exposed reef break on Martinique’s north coast, delivering powerful, consistent surf with a strong focus on barrel/tube sections. It’s described as operating from a rocky reef setup where waves can feel intense and fast, making it best suited to experienced surfers who can manage shallow water and technical takeoffs. Conditions are tied closely to the local wind and swell mix. South to Southeast winds are noted as helping groom the face, while the spot remains exposed to Atlantic energy overall. Wind is generally dominated by trade winds (Alizés), though the mountainous terrain behind the spot can create gustiness and wind shadow effects. Safety at Bagasse is a primary consideration. The reef bottom brings clear hazards—rocks and sea urchins—combined with potentially strong currents during larger swells and a remote shoreline setup. Local guidance emphasizes that the spot is confirmed to expert level only, and the shallow reef requires extra caution when paddling, positioning, and exiting. Seasonally, October is highlighted as the best month for the spot, with winter months generally offering the most consistent swell. Water temperatures remain warm year-round; rash-guard style sun and reef protection is often sufficient, with optional extra protection depending on longer sessions in cooler winter periods.
- Exposed north-coast reef break with powerful barrel/tube potential
- October highlighted as best month
- Rocks and sea urchins make this a hazard-focused expert spot
- Remote shoreline access with limited rescue coverage
- Exposed, consistent north-coast reef surfing with powerful waves and tube/barrel potential.
- Best month is October with generally consistent surf described for the spot.
- Clean open-ocean water in general conditions.
- Confirmed expert-only guidance due to shallow reef and hazards (rocks, sea urchins).
- Remote access with limited rescue availability; prepare supplies.
- Can get heavy on larger swells and may be difficult to paddle out.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SSE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Dominated by Alizés (trade winds); mountainous terrain can still create gustiness or local acceleration.
- Reliability
- medium
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Reported gustiness described as moderate.
- Best Months
- October
- Shadow Zones
- Significant wind shadow from the mountains behind the spot
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Reef — Reef/rocky composition at the break area (spot guides describe reef/rocks; some note sandy patches depending on tide).
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Spot-level sources describe small to medium wave sizes depending on swell.
- Launch
- Small — Rocky shoreline with some sandy patches depending on tide; access involves a walk from parking.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Moderate difficulty due to rocky/reef entry and variable depth; recommended sturdy reef booties if needed.
Through the year
Usually quiet due to remote location, with local crowds possible on weekends.
June to November (hurricane season risk)
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed reef break on the north coast with powerful, long waves; known for barrels/tubes and working best with the appropriate swell direction. Shallow reef and hazards require careful line choice and strong paddling.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- S, SSE
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed reef shoreline; no meaningful shelter from prevailing Atlantic energy.
- Wind Effect
- South winds are offshore and groom the face; North winds are onshore and can make conditions messy (wind direction note from spot-level descriptions).
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well but can become heavy and difficult to paddle out on larger swells.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Powerful
- Wave Shape
- Barreling — Sources describe both barreling barrels and powerful reef waves; one version also notes peeling waves.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — One source reports medium ride length; another describes long rides.
- Ride Length Details
- Can offer rides from about 50 to 100 meters depending on swell connection; also described as long/long tubes.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Bagasse (Martinique) in the full forecast view.
Bagasse (Martinique) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 7–14 ktsGusts 26 kts
- Direction
- E97°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2514 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.8–1.0 m8s period
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Bagasse (Martinique) is forecast for daytime winds of 7–14 kts, peaking around 14 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 26 kts. The prevailing direction is E. Waves run 0.8–1.0 m with a period of about 8s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Sea urchins
- Strong currents possible during large swells
- Remote location
- Shallow reef sections
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — No dedicated on-site rescue base in the immediate vicinity; services are managed by SNSM and the Gendarmerie from larger nearby towns.
- Emergency Info
- Use 112 for emergencies. The primary medical center is CHU de Martinique in Fort-de-France; nearest rescue is managed by services from larger nearby towns.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — No notable localism reported at the spot-level.
Rules of the spot
Expert/confirmed only: shallow reef, rocks, and sea urchins; confirm local session conditions and be prepared for remote access.
- Confirmed expert level only (local guidance).
- Expert/confirmed surfers only; shallow reef requires caution.
- If you are not used to rocky entries, bring sturdy reef booties.
- The spot is remote—ensure you have enough water and supplies as facilities are far.
- Use extreme caution around rocks and urchins.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Fort-de-France
- Nearest Town
- Grand'Rivière
- Nearest Airport
- Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport (FDF)
- Parking
- Limited parking available near the end of the road in Grand'Rivière
- Public Transport
- Access is very limited; the area is at the 'end of the road'.
- Access
- Accessible via the road to Grand'Rivière at the northern end of Martinique; requires a walk from the parking area to the water.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Limited options including small guesthouses (gîtes) and local rentals within Grand'Rivière.
- Food & Drink
- Local restaurants and small grocery stores available in the town of Grand'Rivière.
- Equipment Rental:
- No specialized wind sports or surfing rental shops are available on-site; visitors must bring their own gear.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Bagasse (Martinique)?
The best overall months at Bagasse (Martinique) are October.
Which wind directions work at Bagasse (Martinique)?
Bagasse (Martinique) works with S, SSE winds.
What skill level is Bagasse (Martinique) suitable for?
Bagasse (Martinique) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Expert.