Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get real about the next couple of weeks at Manasquan Inlet, because honestly, it’s a stretch of waiting for the ocean to get its act together.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a long, flat gap. From now through to the end of the first week, the surf is just not happening. We’re talking about a solid seven days of tiny, weak, and messy conditions. The swell is barely registering, with combined energy readings stuck in the low teens and twenties (like 26 and 34), and the periods are short and fat. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, so it’s choppy and bumpy. For a spot like Manasquan Inlet, a beach/jetty setup, that’s a dead loss. There’s nothing to get excited about.

Now, the first real glimmer comes on Sunday the 20th of July. The afternoon shows a bit of life with a swell from the SSE pushing 3 feet, and the combined energy finally climbs into the three-digit zone (127). That’s a moderate kick. But here’s the kicker: the wind is straight onshore from the east at 12 mph, making it a mess. It’s a classic "look but don't paddle out" situation. The next morning, Monday the 21st, still has some SSE swell around 3 feet, but the wind is still onshore. It’s close, but not clean.

The real standout, and the only one I’d call a true highlight in this whole 16-day window, is the afternoon of Thursday the 23rd of July. We get a pulse of east swell at 5 feet with a period of 6 seconds, and the combined energy hits 142. That’s our best wave energy of the whole run. But the real story here is the wind: it’s glassy. Absolutely glassy. That’s a rare treat at Manasquan Inlet. For a break that’s exposed, glassy conditions make all the difference. The waves will be clean, but keep in mind that period is short, so it’ll be a bit crumbly and won’t have that long-period punch. Still, for a few hours, that’s the best we’re going to see.

The following Saturday morning, the 25th of July, offers a backup option. SSE swell at 4 feet with a combined energy of 123, and clean conditions with a light offshore breeze. It’s surfable, but the swell is a bit smaller and the energy is a notch down. It’s a solid second choice, but Thursday afternoon is the one to circle on the calendar.

Overall, expect a long stretch of flat, frustrating days before that one Thursday afternoon window. The water temp is about 71°, which is normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit. This is a spot that can be good, but it’s a waiting game right now.

Rusty.

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