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.

December at Manasquan Inlet offers inconsistent but occasionally surfable conditions. The average swell height is modest at 0.7m with a decent 8.0s period, suggesting shorter, weaker waves, though some larger sets can push through, particularly from the ESE and SE directions. These swells (1-1.5m) make up a small but meaningful percentage of conditions, offering the best potential for rideable waves, especially when combined with favorable winds. Speaking of wind, only 18% of the time is it truly ideal—typically light offshore or cross-offshore from the NW to NNW, which clean up the wave faces. However, the predominant wind direction is WSW-WNW, often blowing in the 10-30kph range, creating choppy or blown-out conditions. The occasional strong W-WNW winds (20-50kph) can further degrade surf quality. While not a prime winter destination, patient surfers can score smaller, clean sessions when swell direction aligns with lighter winds. Expect mostly small, weak waves, but keep an eye out for those less frequent days with ESE/SE energy and NW wind for the best chances.