Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here.

First off, I’m gonna be straight with you: the next week and a half is a bit of a grind. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak, or just plain messy conditions. The only real swell that shows any muscle doesn’t come until the very end of the window, and even then it’s got its issues.

Looking at the Manasquan Inlet (New Jersey) area, the water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days are a total write-off. Sunday the 5th through Monday the 6th, we’re talking knee-high dribble from the southeast and east, with onshore or cross-onshore winds. Combined energy is pitiful, in the 30s and 40s. Not worth paddling out for.

Tuesday the 7th sees a slight bump in height, up to around 4 ft, but it’s coming from the east-northeast with a stiff 15 mph cross-onshore wind. The energy climbs a bit (116), but it’s choppy and ugly. Only for the hardcore.

Wednesday the 8th drops back down to 2 ft, and the wind is still cross-onshore. The energy is still weak (67). No thanks.

There’s a small window on Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th where the morning wind swings southwest, giving us a clean, cross-offshore look. But the swell is tiny – 1 ft to 3 ft – and the energy is low (42 to 64). You could maybe get a fun little waist-high wave on a longboard if you’re desperate, but it’s not surf you’d set the alarm for.

The weekend of the 11th and 12th is a mixed bag. Saturday the 11th has a pulse of 3 ft from the south-southeast with a moderate energy reading (111), but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s choppy. Sunday the 12th is essentially flat.

The middle of the second week, from Monday the 13th to Wednesday the 15th, keeps serving up small, short-period swell. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy stays in the weak to moderate range. Not great.

Now, the standout – and I mean the only real standout – comes on Saturday the 18th of July. The swell finally shows up. We’ve got 6 ft of south swell, with a period of 8 to 9 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 696 (strong). That’s a legitimate, powerful, mid-range groundswell. The issue is the wind. On Saturday morning, it’s a cross-onshore 12 mph from the southeast, but by the afternoon, it swings south and becomes cross-shore. The report calls it “marginal” due to tide, but this is the only window where the wave size alone is worth a look. At 6 ft, it’s a bit much for beginners, but for experienced surfers, the Manasquan Inlet could be handling some solid, punchy walls. The swell direction from the south is a good match for the jetty, and the period is long enough to have some push.

Sunday the 19th is smaller but cleaner, with a 4 ft south-southeast swell and a cross-offshore southwest wind in the morning. Energy is 207. It’s a solid option for a more relaxed session after the weekend’s bigger pulse.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for a real session, mark your calendar for Saturday the 18th of July. It’s the only day with real size and power. The rest of the two weeks is a long wait for small, wonky, or wind-affected surf. The best bet is that Saturday afternoon, despite the cross-shore chop. It’s going to be crowded, so get there early.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the forecasts.

Rusty.

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