Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s chew the fat on what’s coming up for the Manasquan Inlet area. It’s been a slow spell, and we’ve got a few windows where things might just get a little interesting.

The big picture for the next two weeks is, to be honest, a bit of a grind. We’re stuck in a long run of small, weak swells, with combined energy readings mostly in the teens to low sixties, meaning the ocean is feeling pretty flat and lifeless. For the first week, you’re hunting for scraps. The water temp is right around average for this time of year, so no cold surprises there.

The first look is Friday the 7th of August, but it’s not worth wetting a wetsuit. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the SSE with a short 6-second period, and the combined energy is a weak 25. The morning is clean with a light cross-offshore breeze, but the waves are just too poor to even think about.

The weekend, Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th, is about as ordinary as it gets. The swell stays tiny, around 2ft to 3ft, still from the south or SSE, with periods around 6 to 7 seconds. The combined energy bumps up to a modest 49 to 61, but the report says it all: "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." The wind is clean, cross-off or offshore, but the waves are just too gutless to get your heart pumping. It’s a weekend for a beach stroll, not a surf.

From Monday the 10th through to the middle of the following week, the 17th of August, we’re in a real dry spell. The swell drops even further, mostly 1ft to 2ft, with combined energy often in the teens. The wind is clean, often offshore or even glassy on the morning of Wednesday the 12th, but there’s simply no wave energy to work with. It’s a dead zone.

The first real glimmer of hope comes late on Monday the 17th of August. We get a pulse of 3ft swell from the SE, with a 7-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 84. The wind is light and cross-off, making for clean conditions. The report says "surfable but very ordinary," but for this quiet stretch, that’s something. It’s the best we’ve seen in a week.

Tuesday the 18th of August gets a bit bigger, but the quality takes a dive. The swell jumps to 5ft in the morning and 5ft in the afternoon from the SE and ESE, with combined energy hitting 202, which is moderate wave energy. The problem is the wind turns onshore, and the period drops to a short, weak 5 to 6 seconds. It’s bumpy, choppy, and messy. At 5ft, it’s too big for beginners, and with the onshore wind, it’s not looking good for anyone with a paddle. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Wednesday the 19th of August is a bit of a mixed bag. The swell is 4ft from the E, combined energy is 184, but we’ve got rain showers and a risk of thunderstorms in the afternoon. The afternoon cleans up with a strong offshore wind from the W, making it look cleaner, but the swell is still short-period and a bit lumpy. It’s another "ordinary" day.

The last few days of the window, from Thursday the 20th to Saturday the 22nd of August, see the swell drop back down to tiny 1ft to 3ft range, with the combined energy falling back to weak levels. The wind is clean, but the waves are just too small to do anything.

The Standout
If you’re looking for the best of a bad bunch, it’s late on Monday the 17th of August. The 3ft swell from the SE won’t blow your mind, but with the light cross-offshore wind and clean conditions, it’s the only session that might offer a few fun little peaks at high tide. It’s not a day to race out for, but it’s the closest thing to a surf in this forecast.

This is a tough outlook for the Manasquan Inlet. The forecast is quiet for long stretches, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Keep an eye on the charts, because it tends not to stay this poor for long.

Rusty.

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