Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and talk about what’s happening for the next couple of weeks at Manasquan Inlet.

First off, I gotta be straight with you – the outlook is pretty grim for a long stretch. We’re staring down a solid run of tiny, weak, and messy conditions. The water temp is sitting where it should be for this time of year, nothing wild there, but the lack of any real swell energy is the story. For the first week and a half, from Friday the 10th all the way through to about the 22nd of July, this is a desert. There’s a few moments where the wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” but honestly, with combined swell energy barely cracking 65, that’s just a polite way of saying it’s not worth paddling out for. Most days the energy is in the teens, twenties, or low thirties, and the swell heights are barely a ripple – 0.7 ft to 2 ft for the most part. Wind is all over the place too: onshore, cross-onshore, gusty, and just generally ugly. The only decent window of glassy conditions was Friday the 10th afternoon, but even then, it was a 2 ft S swell with a period of 6 seconds – that’s weak, short-period slop.

Now, there’s a glimmer of something on the 18th of July Saturday afternoon, when the swell bumps up to 4 ft from the south, but the wind is a cross-onshore ESE breeze at 12 mph, so it’s gonna be choppy. The energy jumps to 123, which is moderate, but the wave comment still says “poor surf conditions.” That’s a red flag. Then on the 19th of July Sunday afternoon, the energy hits 284 with a 4 ft south swell, but again, it’s cross-onshore and choppy. This is a beach/jetty setup, so with that wind and a short period, it’s going to be a messy, blown-out mess. Honestly, for a spot that’s advanced-level and exposed, that combo looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The best on offer in this whole 16-day window? It’s a thin pick, but I’d point you to the 22nd of July Wednesday morning. The swell is 5 ft from the south, with a period of 7 seconds, and the combined energy is 388 – that’s the strongest we see. The wind is light onshore from the east at 9 mph, so it’s not clean, but it’s the biggest push of the period. That said, 5 ft is getting into the too-big-for-beginners range, and the short period means it’ll be a bit fat and crumbly. For experts only, and even then, you’re competing with the onshore slop. After that, the 23rd of July Thursday afternoon has a glassy moment with a 4 ft SSE swell, and the combined energy is 87, but the wave comment is still “surfable but ordinary.” That’s about as good as it gets for clean conditions.

For the rest of the second week, from the 24th onward, it’s back to tiny 2 ft to 4 ft swell with moderate energy, but the wind is better – cross-offshore from the SSW, so the surface will be clean. The 25th of July Saturday morning has a 4 ft SSE swell with 12 mph cross-off wind, and the energy is 102. That’s a solid, clean option for the advanced crew, but the period is still short at 6 seconds, so don’t expect any power.

Overall, if you’re a surfer, you’re looking at a long dry spell. The first 10 days are basically a write-off. The 22nd morning is the standout for size, but it’s not pretty. The 23rd afternoon is your best bet for clean, glassy conditions, but it’s small. After that, the 25th is clean and rideable, but still unremarkable. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because it tends not to stay this poor for long, but right now, it’s a patience game.

Rusty.

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