This is what is being allowed by NOAA and our governmment

[captbogan]

This is a picture of what used to be Inrock hill. You can see the divot between the two pinicals. The hill came up to 54ft --it is now a 68 ft hole.

This was a natural fish haven for probably 10,000 years. Wiped out in one year. This was a good place to fish and now it's gone! The dredge barge is currently in the process of taking away the sand from other underwater ridges off Seaside and off of Chadwick, to throw up onto the beaches of the elite.

If this process was being done in a forest, where the public would see the damage, there would be outrage.

This is a big problem and it effects not only the underwater hill habitats but the waters close to the beach where living organisms are being covered by sand. It is a fact that the population of surf clams have been decimated during this process. Surf fishing has not been the same and even boats, rarely, catch fish close to the beaches anymore.

Beach replenishment is virtually shoveling sh-- against the tide. It'll be washed away in the next Nor'easter and Inrock hill will wind up inside of Manasquan Inlet.

I've been hearing that Manasquan Ridge is next in their sights.

We need to make people aware and try to stop this. Too many fish havens are gone already.

If they want to do any kind of beach replenishment, the substance should come from channels and inlets --and I don't buy the argument that sand from the inlets is the wrong type of sand.

Thanks for your thoughts

Bob

[River2C]

I agree 100% , when will they learn that the barrier islands are a moving creature, part of nature. All the old time fisherman, first ones on the coast, rarely lived on the Ocean, always on the back bays. This was for a reason. My understanding, haven't been there yet, they also took Harvey Cedar's lump which is off LBI.

[TomKaye]

Capt Bob, thanks for that input. Copied & pasted below is a form letter I received last year on this issue:

Dear Mr. K :

Thank you for your email and for your kind words. I appreciate your sharing your concerns regarding the potential use of Manasquan Ridge for beach replenishment projects as someone interested in recreational fishing and related businesses.
Please know that I have shared your letter with the Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Bliss, who oversees projects in this area.

Rest assured that I will share his response.

Again, thank you for contacting me.

Sincerely,
Rodney Frelinghuysen
Member of Congress

I haven't heard anything about a response from corps of engineers.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Do any of you know an email address, name and phone number of the people whom it would make sense for us to voice our concerns with...

If you do, post them here and we can all try and get their attention.

[1captainron]

Capt. Bob,
Once again, we can scream till we are Blue in the face.....How can we actually think that anyone really gives a Shit when after all these years, the Mud dump, New Grounds south of Scotland, the Rocks, Battlegrounds....some of the best rock bottom & habitat in the world for Marine life to thrive is all covered up, destroyed forever. I agree 100%, where the Hell is the outrage? Habitat destroyed, beaches replaced with the last of the natural bottom, on the taxpayers dimes....This is way beyond old anymore and will NEVER change...Remember, EXTINCT is Forever!!!! Tiered of Politicians acting like they have our back that's bullshit too.....remember, Menendez wouldn't even return our calls for SSFFF and Holt kept looking at his watch like we were the ****ing Plague in his office!

[Capt. Lou]

Talk about another brilliant scheme paid for by you the taxpayer , shoveling S against the tide ! Let the towns pay for sand to be brought in by private sources and leave the ocean alone !
Where are all the protect the ocean groups that defy every move we make as anglers fighting for our survival , you think destruction of the ocean floor in their own backyard would force them into action , it seems only fisheries issues gets their ear ! Something they know nothing about , anyone have an answer for this?

[Capt. Debbie]

Perhaps too busy saluting his main salami and the rainbow.

They have personal agendas. And all the power the party gives them and don't answer to us. The party prevents others running against them too .. Remember Corzine? Or in NY Charlie Rangel. Same sh*t trotted out for us to vote on. No real choices.

Originally Posted by 1captainron

Capt. Bob,
...., Menendez wouldn't even return our calls for SSFFF and Holt kept looking at his watch like we were the ****ing Plague in his office!

[captbogan]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Do any of you know an email address, name and phone number of the people whom it would make sense for us to voice our concerns with...

If you do, post them here and we can all try and get their attention.

Thanks Gerry

I've reached out to Clean Ocean Action and Cindy Zipf called me right back. She is concerned about this issue and they have been working on it. I think the picture that I took of that hill really upset her.

As I've said in the past, all of us may not agree on every issue, but when we do, we need solidarity. Strip mining the hills and ridges in our coastal back yard is something that concerns every recreational fisherman, for-hire fisherman, commercial fisherman, diver, beach-goer and environmentalist. Those underwater hills are destroyed and they are never coming back.

Another issue that she brought up was the underwater seismic blasting. It was done by Rutgers in 2015 and 4 or 5 whales were found dead with inner ear damage during that time. She said there are now plans to begin more blasting with at least 5 times the power of 2015 operation. Besides the whales, how many fish are effected?

I admit that I am not as well read-up on many of the issues as I should be, but what I see is startling.

Since our politicians and Corp of Engineers don't respond --and since NOAA seems to be perfectly fine with us fishermen fading away, I would suggest reaching out to COA and expressing your concerns --and if you think they are doing the right thing, and can help with these issues, support them. www.cleanoceanaction.org

[Bates]

If you want to know what the seismic blasting will do contact Capt Monty Hawkins in Ocean City, MD. They did that down by him and the fish stopped biting and moved away like you threw an OFF switch. They will be doing a lot of this when the wind turbine stuff gets going. They will be checking the type and thickness of the bottom for foundations. Sea Bass, Tog and Fluke will be affected.

[seaveyor]

How bad can it be? Look at what happened off Cape May and Wildwood, after they got done dredging the fishing went from good to real bad. Another thing has happened, the inlet is slowly being filled in. I had 21 feet depth the other day.. That is not much because of the large fishing boats and Coast Guard cutters. I think the dredging has a major impact on the local bottom fishing.