Sargassum at Baie Rouge: today's beach report
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Baie Rouge stretches along the western shore of French Saint-Martin, out in the Terres Basses. This page tracks sargassum at Baie Rouge day by day: what has washed up, a rating from 0 to 5 and a map placing the beach within its coastal zone.
The reading is refreshed every morning, well before beach hours. You get the current level, how it has shifted over the past few days, and the neighbouring beaches in the same zone, so a change of plan takes seconds rather than a wasted drive across the island.
Baie Rouge on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Baie Rouge faces west, on the Caribbean side of the island. Sargassum rafts travel in from the Atlantic on the easterly trade winds, which hit the opposite shore first, so this beach sits in the lee and is generally spared the direct landings. The Terres Basses form a low headland between Simpson Bay Lagoon and the Anguilla Channel, which leaves the shore open mainly to westerly swell and north-west wind: two conditions that have little to do with how sargassum moves.
That is not immunity. In heavy seasons, rafts round the tips of the island and return currents can drop weed on the western side. The bay is wide and open to the sea, so what arrives also tends to drift out again faster than in a closed cove. The daily reading is what settles the question.
Frequently asked questions
Does sargassum reach Baie Rouge?
It faces west on the Caribbean coast, sheltered from the easterly trades that push the rafts ashore, so landings here are less frequent than on the Atlantic side. Heavy seasons can still bring weed around the headlands.
How do I check Baie Rouge before heading out?
Open the FanGass map, updated every morning. It shows today's 0 to 5 rating for Baie Rouge, the level observed on the sand, and nearby beaches in the same zone if you need a backup plan.
Which beaches nearby are worth checking at the same time?
The Terres Basses hold several bays along the same western shore, and Baie Nettlé lies just east towards Marigot. They share the sheltered aspect, though readings can differ from one cove to the next.
When is Baie Rouge most likely to see sargassum?
The arrival season broadly runs from spring into late summer. On this western shore the notable episodes are more spaced out than on the east coast, and depend on how large the offshore rafts get.