Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you about the Jersey surf scene. The next couple of weeks look pretty flat and frustrating for the most part. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak swells, and the wind is going to be a pain in the arse for a lot of it. Don’t get your hopes up, but let’s see if there’s a glimmer of something.

Right now, the best we’ve got is a very small window at Manasquan Inlet. This spot is a beach and jetty setup, and it’s very consistent. The water temp is sitting at 75°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.

On Monday morning, August 24th, we’ve got a tiny 1.0ft swell coming from the ESE with a 12-second period. The combined energy is weak (42). The wind is a light cross-offshore breeze, keeping things clean. The waves are surfable, but it’s very ordinary. Honestly, it’s a knee-high dribble, and you’ll be fighting for scraps. Even the afternoon looks poor with a fresh offshore wind, but the surf is just too small to care.

Things go downhill from there. Tuesday, August 25th through to Sunday, August 30th is a complete write-off. The swell stays tiny, the period drops off, and the wind is a mess – cross, cross-on, and even onshore. The energy is weak, barely cracking 99. Don’t bother paddling out; it’s not worth the effort.

Monday, August 31st offers a tiny bit of hope in the afternoon with a very long period 18-second swell from the ESE, but it’s only 0.7ft. The combined energy is still weak (58). A moderate offshore wind will have it looking clean, but you’d need a surfboard made of paper to catch anything. It’s too small.

The first week of September is a different story, but not a good one. From Tuesday, September 1st through to Monday, September 7th, the swell energy picks up significantly, hitting 346 (strong) by the afternoon of the 6th. The swell heights push up to 5ft on the morning of the 5th. But here’s the kicker: the wind is relentless from the NE and ENE, blowing cross-on or onshore. It’s going to be a choppy, messy, lumpy nightmare. With that much wind and a beach setup, this is looking more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Unless you’re an expert looking for a beatdown, stay away.

Tuesday, September 8th finally shows a light cross-offshore breeze with a 2ft, 10-second E swell. The energy is moderate (103). It’s clean, but still small. Another day of waiting for something better.

So, to wrap it up: the best of a bad bunch is the tiny, clean window on Monday morning, August 24th. It’s nothing to write home about, but it’s the only time the wind and swell line up for a clean look. The rest of the period is either flat, windy, or both. The longer-range stuff towards the end of the first week of September has size, but the wind absolutely ruins it. Keep your board in the car and your eyes on the forecast.

Rusty.

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