Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here, and I’ll be straight with you – this is a tough stretch for the Jersey Shore. Manasquan Inlet is usually a solid bet, but the next two weeks are looking pretty bleak for any real surf. The patterns are weak, and we’re in a bit of a flat spell.

We start off Monday, July 13th, with nothing doing. The swell is tiny, barely 1 ft, coming from the ESE with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined wave energy is a measly 21 – that’s basically flat. On top of that, we’ve got a cross-shore wind kicking up a slight chop, so it’s not even clean. The water temp is sitting at 72°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t freeze waiting for a wave that never comes.

The whole first week is a washout. Through Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, we’re looking at the same story: ankle-high slop, mostly from the south or ESE, with periods under 10 seconds. The wind does swing offshore on Wednesday morning, which would clean things up, but with only 2 ft of swell and a 5-second period, it’s barely a ripple. The energy readings stay in the low 20s – just weak.

We finally get a little bump of energy on Saturday, July 18th, with the afternoon seeing a 3 ft swell from the south, but the period is a terrible 4 seconds. That’s pure wind chop, and the combined energy jumps to 45 – still weak. It’s clean, but it’s not surf. Sunday the 19th morning has a slight hope with 2 ft from the SSE and a moderate offshore wind, but the period is 6 seconds and the energy is 42. The surf report calls it “surfable but very ordinary” – that’s being generous.

Monday, July 20th, is the best we’ll see in the whole 16-day window, and it’s still not a standout. The swell bumps up to 4 ft from the SSE with a 9-second period, and the combined energy finally hits a moderate 186. That’s the only real wave energy in the entire forecast. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the NNE, which will put a bit of a bump on it, but it’s not terrible. For Manasquan Inlet, a 4 ft SSE swell with a 9-second period can produce some fun lines, especially pushing into the jetty. The issue is it’s inconsistent, and it’s not going to be clean glass. Still, if you’re desperate, Monday morning is your best shot. The crowd at Manasquan Inlet can be often busy, so expect company.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. Tuesday, July 21st, drops back to 3 ft with a cross-shore wind, and the energy falls to 95. From there, it’s a long, slow fade into the end of the month. The rest of the forecast is a desert of 0.7 ft to 2 ft swells, short periods, and mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds. The energy readings are all in the teens or low twenties – just a sad, flat ocean.

We do get a tiny bit of hope on the very last day, Tuesday, July 28th afternoon, with 1.0 ft from the ESE, an 8-second period, and a glassy wind condition. But with a combined energy of 21, that’s a lake, not surf.

So here’s the hard truth: in a 16-day window, there is only one day – Monday, July 20th – that even registers as a “maybe” for a surf. The rest is a complete write-off. For Manasquan Inlet, this kind of blank run is more normal than you’d hope, especially in the summer. The good news is, forecasts can change, and it tends not to stay this poor for too long. But for now, park the boards and find something else to do.

Rusty.

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