Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at the Manasquan Inlet outlook for the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, it’s looking pretty grim for a solid stretch. The first week and a half is a real battle. From Thursday the 23rd right through to the end of July, the surf is just a mess. We’ve got a persistent run of onshore and cross-shore winds, mostly from the east and southeast, with a constant low-energy, short-period swell under 3 ft. The period is often under 8 seconds, meaning no real push or shape. The combined swell energy is mostly weak, hovering in the 35 to 102 range – just nothing to get excited about. It’s choppy, it’s messy, and the scores are reflecting that. It’s a genuine write-off for paddle surfing during that period. Honestly, with those winds and that weak, bumpy surf, it might be more interesting for kite surfing than trying to get a decent wave face.

The water temperature is sitting at 74°, about 1° above the long-term average, so it’s just about normal for this time of year. Nothing wild there.

There’s a long gap with no real standouts until we get into the first week of August. The only light in the tunnel is shaping up for Monday morning, August 3rd. That’s a full 11 days away, so keep that in mind, but the setup is promising. We’ve got a light cross-offshore wind from the northwest at 9 mph, which will clean things up nicely. The swell is coming from the SSE at 4 ft with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 181 (moderate), which is the best we’ve seen in the whole run. It’s still not a huge swell, but it’s the most we’ve got, and with that clean wind, it’s the one bright spot. The break is very consistent, but it’s also an advanced spot, so this isn’t for beginners. The crowd factor is listed as “often,” so expect company.

For a break like Manasquan Inlet, which is a beach/jetty setup, the period is on the shorter side for that energy, so don’t expect long, drawn-out lines. But it’s a clean, surfable wave, and that’s the best we’ve got.

Beyond that morning, Monday afternoon clouds over with an onshore wind, and the rest of the forecast fades back into poor conditions. The 7th of August shows a few more clean, cross-offshore windows, but with very small swell (3 ft) and low energy, it’s just a marginal improvement.

So, the summary: there’s a long, tough stretch of poor surf. The only real standout is that Monday morning, August 3rd. If you can wait it out, that’s your window. Otherwise, it’s a tough call for the next two weeks.

Rusty.

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