Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Manasquan Inlet.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a lean stretch. The forecast is basically a long, drawn-out wait. We’re looking at a solid 12 days of mostly small, weak, or blown-out slop before anything really gets going. The first real chance to even paddle out is Thursday morning, the 10th, but even that’s just a whisper. We’ve got a small 3 ft swell from the S with a short period of 6 seconds, meaning weak, crumbly waves. The combined wave energy is a paltry 62, so you’re really just getting wet. The wind is offshore from the W, which will keep it clean, but the wave size is tiny. That same pattern holds through the 10th and 11th, with a bit of glass on Friday afternoon, but the swell never gets above 2 ft. It’s not surfable, really.

The water temperature is currently 75°, which is a full 4° above normal for this time of year. That’s a noticeable anomaly, so you’ll be in a warm, quiet bathtub if you do go in.

Then we hit a massive dead zone. From Saturday the 12th all the way through to the 20th, it’s just an endless parade of tiny, weak, onshore junk. The wind is almost always cross-on or onshore, and the swell heights are mostly under 3 ft with periods from 5 to 7 seconds. The energy readings are in the teens and twenties. There’s a brief moment on the morning of the 16th where a light offshore wind from the WSW cleans up a 2 ft swell, but it’s still just ordinary.

The real standout – and the only thing that gets my blood pumping – is the arrival of a proper swell at the very end of the forecast. On Sunday the 20th, the combined energy jumps from nothing to 334, with a 6 ft swell from the E. Then on Monday the 21st, it’s even better: 7 ft from the E, with a period of 8 seconds, pushing the energy up to 537. That’s a surge of power. However, the wind is the problem. Sunday afternoon it’s onshore from the ENE, and Monday it’s cross-on from the NNE. That’s going to chop it up something fierce. The water will be a mess, and for a beach/jetty spot like this, that’s a deal-breaker for a clean session. It’s looking more like a kitesurfer’s dream than a fun day for a surfer. The swell is over 5 ft, so it’s too big for beginners, and with the messy wind, it’s really only for the dedicated crew.

After that, it drops off again quickly. The 22nd and 23rd are back to small, weak, onshore dribble.

So, what’s the best on offer? Honestly, there’s no true standout. If you are absolutely desperate, the cleanest small waves will be the morning of the 10th with that offshore wind. If you want power, the 20th and 21st have the size, but the wind will ruin it. It’s a long wait for a messy payoff.

Rusty.

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