Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me tell you how it’s looking for Manasquan Inlet over the next 16 days.

To be honest, we’ve got a long dry spell right from the get-go. The first real surf worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Sunday morning, the 13th of September. Even then, it’s pretty ordinary with a tiny 3ft swell from the SSE and a short, weak 5-second period. The combined energy is only 57 (weak), so it’s more of a longboard or log session if you’re desperate. The wind is offshore from the West, so it’ll be clean, but the waves are just weak. That window of clean, small surf carries into Sunday afternoon, still with 2ft from the SSE.

After that, we’re back into a lull of poor surf – small, choppy, and onshore conditions pretty much wipe out the following week. The wind swings around and stays cross-on or onshore, and the swell barely gets above 3ft. This stretch lasts from Monday the 14th all the way through to the 22nd of September. A few of those days have stronger wind – up to 31 mph on the 21st, with a messy, blown-out vibe. Not worth it for paddling; that setup on the 21st and 22nd would actually be more fun for kite surfing than a traditional surf session, especially with the cross-onshore wind and that bigger combined energy (101) kicking up chop.

Things finally start to show a pulse around Wednesday the 23rd of September. The swell builds to 5ft on Wednesday morning from the SE, with a 7-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 237 (moderate). The wind is cross-shore from the North, so it’s not glassy, but it’s not all messy either. It’s more of an expert-only scenario because the swell is over 5ft and the tide could be tricky – the forecast flags it as marginal. If you’re a seasoned local and you know the sandbanks, it could be worth a look. The Wednesday afternoon holds at 5ft and 251 energy.

The standout window for this whole outlook is Thursday the 24th of September. Morning sees a clean 3ft groundswell from the SE, with a 8-second period, and the wind is offshore from the WSW at 12 mph. The combined energy is 129 (moderate). That offshore breeze will groom the faces, and the swell direction (SSE optimum) lines up decently with the break’s exposure. The Manasquan Inlet is a beach and jetty setup, so keep in mind that longer-period SE swell can peel a bit straight on the beach, but the jetty can focus it nicely. Crowds are often an issue here, so get in early. The Thursday afternoon remains clean, offshore from the West at 16 mph, with 3ft from the SE.

A quick note on the water temperature – the first decent surf day on the 13th comes with a temperature of 74°F and an anomaly of +4°F. That’s much warmer than normal for mid-September, so you can probably leave the thick wetsuit at home.

The tail end of the forecast – Saturday the 26th of September – offers another clean option. Morning sees 4ft from the East, with a light cross-offshore wind from the NW, and energy at 144. The afternoon cleans up even more with a slight air and 4ft from the East. But this is a second-week call, so less certain than Thursday.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for the best session in this stretch, pencil in Thursday the 24th of September for clean offshore conditions and a solid 3ft of SE swell. Wednesday the 23rd for the bigger, more powerful waves if you’ve got the skills. Otherwise, it’s a lot of waiting.

Rusty.

Read more