Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty. I’ve got a pretty quiet outlook for the Manasquan Inlet area over the next couple of weeks. Water temp’s sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there. The main issue is that the swell just isn’t showing up with any real size or energy, and the wind’s often working against us. Let’s step through the days.

Wednesday 5th August – The swell is tiny, only 2ft from the SE with a short period of 7 seconds, and the wind is cross-onshore. The water’s got some light wind ripples; it’s just poor surf, not worth a paddle. The combined energy is only 34 (very weak).

Thursday 6th August – A bit more swell, 3ft to 4ft from the S, but the period is still short (5–6 seconds). Wind is cross-off, which keeps the surface clean, but the waves are small and weak. Thursday morning shows 87 energy, afternoon just 66. Still not enough to get excited about.

Friday 7th August – Slight improvement. Morning has 2ft from the SSE with a 6-second period, light cross-off wind, and it’s clean. The combined energy is 43. The afternoon pushes 3ft from the S, but with 16 mph winds it’s messy. This is the first surfable, but very ordinary, day.

Saturday 8th August – Similar story. Morning has 2ft from the S, then afternoon drops to 1ft from the SE with an 8-second period and light offshore wind. Clean, but tiny. The energy is 42 and 48. It’s surfable but nothing special.

Sunday 9th August – Small swell again, 2ft to 2ft, clean with light wind. The combined energy is 37 and 45. Still very ordinary.

Monday 10th August – 2ft to 2ft, clean, but the swell is short-period and weak. The energy sits at 30 and 44. Not much to report.

Tuesday 11th August through to Saturday 15th August – This stretch is a real gap. Swell barely reaches 2ft, and most days the combined energy is below 20. The wind is either cross-off or cross-onshore, but with such tiny waves it’s not worth a look. The one exception is Friday 14th August morning, when we get glassy conditions with 1ft from the SSE – but that’s barely a ripple.

Sunday 16th August – The swell starts to build a little. 4ft to 4ft from the E, with a period of 6 seconds, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. The energy climbs to 84 and 99 (still weak). Monday 17th August is similar, with 4ft to 4ft from the E, but the wind stays cross-onshore, keeping it bumpy. The energy is 123 and 125 (now moderate). This is the biggest swell of the forecast, but the wind is working against it.

Tuesday 18th August – The swell is 4ft from the E with a period of 8 seconds, and the wind is onshore. The energy jumps to 188 (moderate), but the conditions are poor with cross-onshore chop. Not a great combo.

Wednesday 19th August – A bit of a reprieve. 2ft from the E with an 8-second period, light cross-off wind, and clean. The energy is 81. Surfable but ordinary.

Thursday 20th August – Another small clean day, 2ft from the E with an 8-second period, gentle cross-off wind. Energy 57. Still very ordinary.

If I had to pick the best of the bunch, it’s Friday 7th August morning – that 2ft from the SSE with light cross-off wind and clean conditions is the most surfable moment, but it’s small. For anyone wanting a bit more size, Monday 17th August has the biggest swell (4ft to 4ft from the E), but the cross-onshore wind makes it choppy and messy. That’s not a standout, just the biggest of a poor lot.

Overall, this is a long run of small, weak surf with occasional clean windows, but nothing to get excited about. The forecast could change, but for now, keep the board waxed for a small session if you’re desperate.

Rusty.

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