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.

July at Manasquan Inlet offers small to very small surf, with an average swell height of just 0.6m and a modest 7.7s period, making it a mostly mushy and weak wave environment. The dominant swell directions are from the south and southeast, with ESE, SE, and SSE accounting for the majority of rideable waves in the 0.5-1.5m range. However, larger swells (over 1.5m) are rare, occurring less than 1% of the time. Wind conditions are favorable for surfing only 31% of the time, with the most common onshore winds coming from the south and southwest, which can degrade wave quality. Offshore winds, which improve wave shape, are infrequent, primarily from the northwest and west but weak in strength (mostly under 20kph). Overall, expect small, often gutless waves with occasional short-lived cleaner conditions when winds shift favorably. It’s a spot better suited for beginners or longboarders in July, as advanced surfers will find limited power and consistency.