POINT PLEASANT BEACH – The shoaling has returned to Manasquan Inlet, creating a potential navigational hazard and risk to people climbing down onto it, or surfing the waves caused by it.
At Monday’s low tide several people were observed by the Asbury Park Press on the shoal fishing or walking their dog. Elected leaders and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers though are warning people to stay off. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith is calling on the Army Corps to take immediate action.
“The build-up of sand on the Point Pleasant side of the inlet against the jetty has reached unprecedented proportions,” said Smith. “This is not only a grounding hazard to vessels, but the waves created inside the inlet as a result of this shoaling are enough to capsize boats that regularly traverse the channel.”
This is the second time in the last three summers the shoal has formed, though fishing boat captains who traverse the inlet daily say it’s much worse this time. The first occurrence was 2022 and required the U.S. Army Corps to dredge the waterway connecting the Manasquan River and Atlantic Ocean.
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“It’s the biggest I’ve ever seen it. It’s like a beach. It sticks out about one-third of the inlet and goes back at least 50 yards,” said Capt. William Egerter Jr. of the Dauntless party fishing vessel.
Egeter said he’s observed body boarders riding the waves. He said a big swell in the inlet could be dangerous if the shoal remains. “The big boats should be able to get through, but a small boat might get swamped by a wave,” the longtime fishing captain said.
Steve Rochette, the public affairs officer for the Army Corps’ Philadelphia District, said they do have the Dredge Murden scheduled to come later this month but they may be able to divert it to the inlet. It’s currently working on the Shark River, but Rochette said they might be able to complete some dredging cycles in the Manasquan Inlet sooner than scheduled because of the shoaling.
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“We certainly want to get our survey results to get a fuller picture of the current conditions. Significant shoaling has frequently occurred within this inlet and often dissipates due to wind/wave conditions. Coastal inlets are dynamic and can rapidly change, but it’s important for us to get the data at this point,” Rochette said.
A spokesman for Smith said the congressman has spoken to the Corps, Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Douglass Vitale and boat captains. Two years ago, Smith helped lead efforts to get the inlet dredged out. Vitale told the Asbury Park Press he is warning people to say off the shoal in his public posts to social media.
The Corps said people should avoid walking or recreating on the shoal given the dynamic nature of the inlet and sea conditions.
The exact cause of the shoal has not been identified, but Egeter believes it’s most likely the south wind and swells pushing the sand to it. The south winds have persisted all summer so far and it is close to the same conditions in 2022. A prolonged northeast wind could also help push it out.
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In the 1920s, the natural inlet completely sanded in after the Point Pleasant Canal was dug, forcing the Corps to stabilize the waterway and construct the present inlet.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Manasquan Inlet shoal is back and bigger, puts boats at risk
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