Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty checking in from the Jersey Shore. Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the next couple of weeks are gonna be a real test of patience. We’ve got a long stretch of small, wind-affected conditions ahead, so let’s break it down.

We’re looking at a pretty grim run for the first several days. The water temp is sitting at 74°F right now, which is about 2°F warmer than usual for this time of year. It’s a nice bath, but it won’t make up for the lack of waves.

So, Saturday the 18th through to Tuesday the 22nd of July is mostly a write-off. You’ll see tiny, weak swell with poor wind. The energy is stuck in the low double digits, just a measly 12 to 52 (combined energy of all swells). Nothing to get excited about. The only real glimmer in this whole period comes on Wednesday, July 22nd. That’s your standout.

Wednesday morning we’re looking at a bump in swell, hitting 7 ft from the S, with a combined energy of 925 – that’s moderate wave energy. The wind is a cross-off from the SW at 12 mph, which will keep it reasonably clean. The period is 8 seconds, so it’s a short-period wind swell, but it’ll have some push. This is the biggest size we see, and at 7 ft, it’s getting into expert territory at Manasquan Inlet. The afternoon cleans up even more with a straight offshore wind from the W at 12 mph, dropping the swell to 5 ft from the SSE with a 9-second period and a combined energy of 337. That’s a solid session if you’re comfortable in bigger surf.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. From Thursday the 23rd through the end of the month, we’re looking at tiny, weak swell, mostly under 4 ft, with shitty onshore or cross-shore winds. The energy is in the low double or triple digits, and the scores are all poor. There’s a few days there with clean conditions but no real swell to work with.

Heading into the first week of August, the swell tries to pick up again, but it’s all onshore wind. Saturday, August 1st and Sunday, August 2nd show 5 ft to 5 ft from the SSE, but with a direct onshore wind from the E and SE. The energy is strong (221 to 351 combined energy), but the period is a short 6-7 seconds, and the onshore wind will turn it into a choppy mess. For a beach/jetty setup like Manasquan Inlet, that’s more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfers. It’s a shame, because there’s some juice in the water, but the wind is going to ruin it.

So, bottom line: if you’re an expert looking for a paddle, Wednesday, July 22nd is your only real shot. Everything else is a waiting game. It’s a tough run, but that’s the Jersey Shore in the summer for you. Forecasts can change, so keep your eye on it.

Rusty.

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