Overview
Manasquan Inlet is one of the best-known breaks on the East Coast, and for good reason. It's a jetty wave where incoming swell bounces off the rocks and gets corralled into a steep right wedge over a sand bottom. Often likened to Sebastian Inlet down south, it stands apart by offering longer rides than its counterpart. On the right day it serves up two fast, bowl-shaped peaks and the occasional quality left.
When It Works
The Inlet pulls in swell from east to south, and it's frequently the only show in town, refracting almost any ripple off the jetty into something rideable. It works best on a southeast swell, which can build faces up to 20 feet. Expect a usable range from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 3.7 m / 12 ft. It breaks over sand as both a beach and jetty setup, with the right the main event and a left on offer too, and it can break a good way outside on bigger days. The season runs from autumn into winter, roughly September through March.
Wind and Tide
Look for west-southwest offshore wind, with a broader workable window stretching from south-southwest through west to northwest. It fires best on low to mid tide, and a rising tide is generally the better call.
Local Tips
A rip typically runs alongside the jetty, making for an easy paddle out even when it's big, so all types of surfers can find their way onto the peak. It suits intermediate and expert surfers and handles everything from shortboards and fish to longboards and bodyboards. Expect a very busy lineup when it's firing, especially on good long-period swells, though the atmosphere stays friendly.
Access
Getting in is easy, just be aware of beach badges during the summer months. Watch for the rocks and stray fishing lures around the jetty.
