Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this Manasquan Inlet forecast is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, bleak stretch of very ordinary conditions, with the only real pulse of swell coming mid-period, but even that’s a bit of a letdown. There’s no standout session that’s going to get your heart racing, but let’s pick through the bones.

We kick off Monday afternoon, September 7th, with a tiny 1ft swell from the ENE, period at 10 seconds. The wind is a light cross-off from the SSW, so the surface is clean, but the wave energy is weak (40). The water is a balmy 75°F, which is a solid 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year—that’s a real treat on the skin, but it won’t save the surf. It’s just surfable, but nothing to write home about.

Tuesday and Wednesday are a washout. The swell drops to 0.7ft and then 0.3ft, with poor conditions across the board. Don’t bother paddling out.

Then, on Thursday, September 10th, we get a bump. The morning sees a 4ft swell from the SSW, but the period is a weak 6 seconds—short period windswell, not much grunt. The combined energy is moderate (196), but the wind is offshore from the W, so the surface is clean and glassy. It’s surfable, but the waves are going to be crumbly and lack punch. The afternoon drops to 3ft, same story. This is the best of the lot, but it’s a low bar.

The next few days after that are mostly small, messy, and cross or onshore. Friday morning, September 11th, has a clean 2ft from the S with a cross-off wind, but it’s tiny. Friday afternoon turns glassy with the same size, but again, it’s small. The real frustration is that on Saturday, September 12th, and Sunday, the wind turns cross-on, and the swell is barely a ripple.

The second week gets even more dim. There’s a brief moment of glassy conditions on Monday morning, September 14th, with a 2ft swell from the SE, but the energy is pathetic (44). After that, it’s a mix of onshore winds and chop, with a few clean pockets but no size. A 2ft to 3ft range is all you’ll see, and the longest period we get is 13 seconds on Wednesday afternoon, September 16th, but that’s from the E, and the energy is moderate (168). Still, the waves are junk.

By the time we hit the weekend of the 19th and 20th, there’s a little more size—up to 4ft on Saturday afternoon—but it’s onshore and messy. The final days of the forecast are just more of the same: small, weak, and inconsistent.

The only real window is Thursday, September 10th. The offshore wind and the 4ft swell offer the best chance for a surfable wave, but it’s not going to be epic. The jetty jacks up the short period a bit, but for a spot that’s “very consistent” and usually reliable, this is a quiet spell. If you’re a beginner, that 4ft is fine, but it’s not the clean, long period groundswell we all want.

So, to sum it up: the water is warm, the wind is often clean, but the swell is mostly absent. It’s a waiting game. The forecast can change, and it’s not unusual for the area to go quiet. For now, keep your board waxed and your eyes on the horizon.

Rusty.

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