Manasquan Inlet:
Manasquan Inlet is the northern equivalent to Sebastian. With a similar jetty setup, waves bounce off the rocks and their power is corralled into a steep right wedge. But where Sebastian tends to lack distance, Manasquan can produce lengthy rides. One of the best-known breaks on the East Coast, the Inlet can take almost anything the Atlantic can dish out. With a southeast swell, it can handle up to 20-foot faces, with two fast, bowl-shaped peaks and the occasional quality left. A sand-replenishment project in the late ’90s wrought havoc with the Inlet sandbar, turning the lineup into a deep hole. As of 2000, the sand is back, and the bowl is working. It’s often the only show in town; any ripple refracts off the jetty to create a workable wave.
The always-packed parking lot attests to the diversity of visitors from other locales, but a well-defined crew of locals tends to dominate first peak on the better days. Over the years, the faces haven’t changed much. You’ll find basically the same regulars taking the pick of the litter as you would have 15 years ago. Guys like Charlie King, Scotty Duerr, T.R. Devaney, Matty McKeever, Mike Brown and Shane Boyle still rule the sets. However, on the less exciting days, the hierarchy goes out the door. With a rip running next to the jetty, the Inlet is an easy paddle, even on bigger days. Therefore, inexperienced kids, longboarders and spongers can easily stumble onto the peak.
The town consists of ’50s beach cottages, a nice marina, and some quaint neighborhoods just minutes from the sand. Like everywhere else in Jersey, it’s wall to wall in summer, and somewhat of a winter ghost town.
16th Ave:
Manasquan gets all the attention, but this entire stretch is capable of ultra-hollow barrels. On a good southeast swell, there is plenty of room to spread out, as long as the authorities aren’t in their Robocopmode. In summer, many beaches close during hurricane swells, and violating surfers are removed from the lineup in handcuffs, including the infamous “Spring Lake Three” case of 1996. Google it; it’s fun.
Sixteenth Avenue, across from Eastern Lines Surf Shop, is the surfer’s beach in Belmar. It breaks pretty well on all swells, and is a good spot to catch if it’s not summer. If it is, prepare for a crowd. There are a million people in Belmar in the summer, and the water is no different. There is plenty of parking, which makes it that much easier to crowd the lineup. To the north is 8th Avenue Jetty, which can produce a heavy barrel with even heavier hassles. Don’t bother paddling out if there are more than four guys in the water: 8th Avenue is locals only, and they’re not afraid to let you know it. At the end of Belmar is the Belmar Pier, which, although fickle, can produce a good session here or there. It takes a north swell nicely. There are a number of other jetties in Belmar, so there are plenty of chances for you to score. (Springsteen reference number four: the opposite streets are named using letters. Does E Street sound familiar?)
Monmouth Beach:
Monmouth is one of several reliable fall/winter beachbreaks in New Jersey–and it’s just the type of beachbreak you imagine when you think of Jersey. Hurricanes, Nor’easters and just solid low pressure systems treat Monmouth’s array of jetties quite well, though things can get messy and closed out when swells start maxing.
For a long while there, Monmouth surfers had the Long Branch beach replenishment project to thank: the project stripped Long Branch of its best sandbars and essentially shifted the focus to Monmouth. The result was consistency at any size. Well, as you’d expect from a coast that is exclusively sand, things have changed once again. Monmouth is still just fine, though certain peaks have gone this way or that–especially post Superstorm Sandy.
All of Monmouth’s good fortune over the years has nurtured a steely local crew, so be aware of who’s who in the water. There are always going to be the prime spots, but there are also plenty of alternatives, so use good judgment, show respect, and you should be just fine.