Manasquan Inlet - surf spot statistics

Manasquan Inlet is a surf spot largely dominated by wind swells, with ground swells being relatively rare. The best months for surfing here are typically late summer and early fall, specifically from **August to October**, when ground swell activity increases slightly and wind conditions improve marginally. September stands out with 20% ground swell occurrence—the highest of the year—alongside reduced no-swell days (19%) and a mean swell size of 0.8m, offering more consistent rideable waves. While wind conditions remain suboptimal (71% bad winds even in September), this period still provides the best balance between swell energy and surfable days. Winter and early spring (November to March) bring choppier conditions due to strong onshore winds (bad wind conditions exceeding 80%) and smaller, wind-driven swells. Summer months (May to July) see a drop in swell size (0.6-0.8m) and persistent bad wind conditions (70-73%), though June and July offer slightly better wind windows (30-31% favorable winds). Overall, surfers can expect the most reliable sessions in late summer and early fall, but must contend with generally poor wind alignment year-round. The spot favors those comfortable with wind swell surf, as clean conditions are rare.

August at Manasquan Inlet offers generally small but surfable conditions, with an average swell height of 0.7m and a decent period of 8.2s, providing some energy despite the modest size. The swell is predominantly from the ESE, SE, and SSE directions, which align well with the break, especially in the 0.5-1.5m range where the majority of waves occur. Larger swells (1.5-2.5m) are rare but do appear occasionally, mostly from the E and ESE. The wind is the biggest variable—while 30% of the time it's clean (light offshore or sideshore), the rest often sees onshore or strong winds, particularly from the S to SW directions at 10-30kph, which can chop up conditions. Overall, expect smaller, rippable waves with occasional good days when wind and swell align, but be prepared for frequent wind-affected sessions. Ideal for longboarders or high-volume shortboards on smaller days, with shortboards working when the rare bigger pulses arrive.