Point Pleasant Beach mayor monitors sand shoaling at Manasquan Inlet
The dangerous movement of sand has become an attraction for those at the shore. Locals told News 12 that the sand is not safe to stand on.
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It's the beach that no one asked for - and it's right in the middle of the Manasquan Inlet.
The growing sandbar is now blocking a large portion of the waterway at low tide, and experienced fishermen say it could become a deadly obstacle for boaters.
"Someone's going to die. If this is not taken serious if it's not corrected right away someone is going to die," said Gus Lovgren, a fourth-generation fisherman and owner of the Lily Rose vessel.
Gus Lovgren has sailed through the Manasquan Inlet all his life and says he has never seen it this bad.
"You're looking at a day where there's not even a ripple in the water and you have two-to-three-foot seas in the inlet," he said.
It's all because shifting sand and persistent southerly winds have built up a sandbar along the Point Pleasant Beach side of the inlet.
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"I was definitely nervous about it and so are all of these professional captains we are worried about it," said Dave Riback, owner and captain of the Queen Mary.
Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Doug Vitale, Assemblyman Paul Kanitra and Rep. Chris Smith all requested immediate action from the Army Corps of Engineers to get an emergency dredge boat on site. The longer it takes, the greater risk to the local fishing economy, and more importantly, the lives of those passing through the inlet, say the fishermen.
"We don't want anybody getting hurt whether it's a kid on a WaveRunner or a big boat a commercial boat having an accident," added Riback .
"I want to see a dredge boat here yesterday. I want this taken care of our fisherman docks co-op brings in over 15 million a year to our local income if these boats can't fish there's no money coming in," said Lovgren.
The US Army Corps of Engineers responded to Rep. Smith's request, saying dredge boat "Murden" is scheduled to visit the inlet later this month but could start operations as soon as Tuesday, depending on weather and sea conditions.
