Jenkinsons (Point Pleasant Beach) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this 16-day stretch for the Jersey Shore is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, drawn-out run of tiny, weak, and mostly messy surf. Don’t get too excited, because the first proper swell doesn’t show up until the second week, and even then, it’s a fight against the wind.

To start, there’s basically nothing rideable for the first nine days. From Wednesday the 5th through to Thursday the 13th, the swell is almost non-existent. We’re talking about ankle-biters with combined wave energy mostly under 100 (weak) and a lot of short-period, wind-driven slop. The 6th has a little bump of 3ft from the south, but it’s messy. The 8th has a clean window with a light offshore, but only 2ft on offer. It’s frustrating, but this is what a summer lull looks like—it can happen and it doesn’t tend to stay this poor for long.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Friday the 14th of August. Early morning at Jenkinsons (Point Pleasant Beach) is glassy, with a tiny 2ft swell from the ENE. It’s nothing special, but that is the cleanest the surf will be for a while. The period is only 4 seconds, so it’s weak and soft, but you might get a dribbly one if you’re really keen.

The run of poor surf continues right through until Monday the 17th. That’s when things start to pick up. We finally get some proper east swell energy moving in, but the wind is the killer. On the 17th, we’ve got 5ft of east swell with a period of 6-7 seconds, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. The combined energy is up to 168 (moderate), but it’s going to be a messy, bumpy mess. Looks like a day for the bodyboarders or maybe a kite if you’ve got one.

The standout of the whole period, and it’s not saying much, is Tuesday the 18th of August. Early morning, we get 4ft of east swell with an 8-second period, and the energy is up at 230 (moderate). The wind is light onshore early, which is better than the cross-onshore junk we’ve had. It won’t be perfect, but it’s the biggest and most organised swell of the window. This is about as good as it gets, but it’s still only for the more experienced crew. Anything over 5ft is a challenge for beginners, and this is right on that edge.

After that, it backs off again. The 19th and 20th drop back to 3ft and 2ft with onshore winds, so don't plan your week around it.

So, honestly, if you’re a beginner, stay home until the 18th, and even then, be careful. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no dramas there. It’s a classic summer flat spell with one day of hope in the middle. Keep an eye on that Tuesday the 18th, but don’t hold your breath. This is Rusty, signing off.

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