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.

May at Manasquan Inlet typically offers small to moderate surf, with an average swell height of 0.8m and a decent period of 7.5s, providing some rideable energy despite the modest size. The predominant swell directions are from the east and southeast, with the best conditions arriving from ESE (15.7% of waves in the 0.5-1m range) and E (13.4% in the same range). Larger swells (1-2.5m) are less frequent but still occur, mostly from the E-ESE sectors. Wind conditions are only ideal for surfing 27% of the time, with lighter winds (10-20kph) from the SSE to SW directions being the most favorable. Stronger winds, particularly from the SW and SSW, can frequently disrupt conditions, as these directions account for a notable percentage of winds over 20kph. Overall, May is a hit-or-miss month—when winds align, the ENE-ESE swells can provide fun, waist-high to head-high sessions, but wind-chop and inconsistency mean patience is key. Keep an eye on forecasts for those cleaner E/SE swell days with light offshore or side-shore winds.