Manasquan Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, let’s talk about what’s happening at Manasquan Inlet. This is a classic beach/jetty setup, and it’s a spot that takes a real solid swell from the SSE to get going. We’re looking at a long stretch here, and I gotta be straight with you – the first week is a tough one. There’s a lot of waiting around ahead.

We kick off on Thursday, July 30th, with a tiny 2ft SE swell, but the wind is all over the place. Thursday morning has a cross-off breeze, but it’s still just poor conditions. The energy is weak, sitting at only 66, and it’s just not doing anything for us. Thursday afternoon gets worse with a cross-on wind. That sets the tone for the next several days.

We’ve got a real dry spell here. Friday the 31st starts with a little bit of hope – a glassy morning with a 2ft SE swell. The energy is only 47, so it’s tiny, but it’s *surfable*. That’s about as good as it gets for a while. The water is 74°, which is about normal for this time of year, nothing wild.

From there, it’s a slog. We go through the weekend and into the first part of the next week with nothing but tiny, weak swells and choppy, cross-shore winds. The energy values are consistently in the double digits, barely cracking 100. It’s flat, it’s messy, and it’s not worth paddling out for.

Then, finally, on Monday, August 3rd, in the afternoon, we get a little pulse. The swell bumps up to 4ft from the SSE, and the energy jumps to 226 – that’s moderate, solid wave energy. What’s better? The wind goes glassy. That’s the standout of the first half of the outlook. It’s the first time we see "expect good surf conditions" in the data. It’s not huge, but it’s clean, and for Manasquan, that’s a window to go have a session.

After that, it’s back to the grind. We get a few mornings with clean conditions but on tiny swells (1ft to 2ft), and the energy drops right back down. The wind is often cross-off or light, but the waves just aren’t there. A lot of "poor surf conditions" reads.

The second week is more of the same, I’m afraid. There’s a glimmer on Monday, August 10th, with a 2ft SSE swell and a 9-second period. The energy is 72, and it’s labeled as "surfable but very ordinary." The wind is light and cross-off, so it’s clean, but the size is just a bump. The same goes for Tuesday, August 11th, with a 3ft SSE swell and clean conditions – again, just ordinary.

The end of the outlook, around Wednesday, August 12th, shows a bit more size. The swell is 4ft to 5ft from the SSE, and the energy is 129 and then 245. But the wind is a cross-shore, and the conditions are listed as "poor." The long period isn’t there either, so it’s likely a windswell that’s going to be lumpy. It’s a shame because there’s some energy, but the wind will ruin it.

So, the honest truth? The one real standout window is Monday afternoon, August 3rd. That 4ft groundswell with glassy conditions is your best bet. It’s a clean, small-wave session for the advanced crew. Outside of that, it’s a lot of waiting for something that just isn’t coming during this 16-day stretch. For a spot that’s very consistent, these blank runs happen, but they don’t last forever. Forecasts can change.

Stay patient, keep an eye on the horizon, and I’ll see you in the water when it’s right.

- Rusty

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