Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I'm looking at what's on the menu for Manasquan Inlet over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, it's a rough start. We've got a solid two-week stretch here, but for the first week, it's basically a write-off.

Right now, we're looking at a long, quiet spell. From Monday the 14th right through to the 20th, the surf is tiny and weak. We're talking ankle-snappers at best, with swell heights barely cracking 1 ft and combined energy readings sitting in the low double digits (31-61). The water is a balmy 73°, which is 4° warmer than normal, so the ocean feels like a bath, but there's nothing to ride. The wind is mostly cross or onshore, just making things worse. There's a couple of mornings where it's clean, but with no real swell, it doesn't matter. You're better off staying on the beach for a week.

Now, things get a bit more interesting, but not in a good way for paddle surfing. Starting Monday the 21st, a big pulse of easterly swell rolls in. We're talking 6 ft to 7 ft of short-period, choppy windswell, with combined energy jumping up into the hundreds (323-645). The problem is the wind is howling onshore from the east and southeast at 15-18 mph. At a jetty break like Manasquan Inlet, that's just a washing machine. Honestly, this setup looks way more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. It stays blown out and lumpy through Wednesday the 23rd, with the swell even pushing 7 ft.

Finally, there's a window. Thursday the 24th is the one to circle on your calendar. The morning brings a clean 4 ft easterly swell with light offshore winds from the WSW (282 combined energy). The afternoon gets even better – glassy conditions with a 4 ft E swell (214 combined energy). This is the standout period. The swell is moderate, the wind is perfect, and it should offer some nice, clean lines off the jetty. It's still an advanced break, so be ready for a crowd.

After that, it fades back into ordinary conditions through the end of the month, with waist-high dribble and less-than-ideal winds. The 28th shows a glimpse of a clean 3 ft swell in the morning, but it's crossed up, and the afternoon glass is on small 3 ft waves. Not terrible, but not a patch on the 24th.

So, to put it simply: you've got a long flat spell, a big blown-out mess in the middle of the week, and one real shot at some quality surf on the 24th. Be patient, wait for that Thursday.

Rusty.

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