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.

November at Manasquan Inlet offers surfable conditions, though with some limitations. The average swell height is 0.8m with a decent period of 8.1s, suggesting mostly small to medium waves with occasional clean, rideable sets. The dominant swell directions are from the ESE (12.67% of waves in the 0-0.5m range, 11.86% in 0.5-1m) and E (6.06% in 0-0.5m, 9.86% in 0.5-1m), providing generally favorable angles for the break. However, larger swells (1.5m+) are less frequent, with E, ESE, and SE directions contributing the most to overhead conditions—though these make up only about 3-5% of occurrences. Wind conditions are a mixed bag, with ideal offshore or light winds present just 21% of the time. The worst winds come from the W, WNW, and NW, bringing onshore gusts over 20kph at times, which can chop up the surf. Overall, November is decent for intermediates when swells align and winds cooperate, but advanced surfers may find it inconsistent. Keep an eye on E/SE swells paired with light NNE winds for the best sessions.