Surfcasting Close Call

This past weekend on Island Beach State Park, one misstep put a surfcaster in mortal danger, but fast action by several bystanders saved a life on the beach. Todd Maiorano wrote this account of the incident in a letter of gratitude to the members of the Berkley Striper Club who saved his life:

My name is Todd Maiorano and I am able to write this note today beacause of the efforts of many of the members of the Berkeley Striper Club this past weekend. I was fishing off a bar in IBSP and quickly found where the end of the bar was. I was washed off by a wave and the current and was unable to make it back. As I began to drift further out to sea, fear set in as I witnessed the surfcasters on the beach getting farther away. With the effects of the cold water and the weight of my wet clothes and waders that were beginning to fill, I honestly feel I only had a few more minutes left in me to fight. Unable to swim back, I can’t tell you the thoughts that were going through my mind, but can say they are not ones you ever want to know or feel.

Andy Bidlingmaier who was part of the rescue effort was kind enough to provide this account:

The Berkeley Striper Club’s tagging tournament was this weekend. It’s always a good time with a lot of fun with a great group of guys. We fish hard for three days and enjoy each other’s company and the chops busting that goes along with it. This weekend is one that will be remembered for a long time.

I fished on team Relentless with Bristol Lou, Marc Yoccum and Tom Basile. We picked a spot that did very well by us. Just to our north was Team Barrier Island. We came upon this spot Friday and came back to it Saturday and Sunday.

It was a point with a bar in front running to the south, nice bowl to the south and a nice rip along the inside of the bar. Just to the north of the point was a cut through the bar, another nice bowl and bar to the north. Team Barrier Island was on the north side, Team Relentless on the south. We fished our side, they fished theirs, we met in the middle to talk, laugh and bust chops while JM Basile of Team Barrier Island gave us dirty looks. He was fishing hard.

Late in the day on Saturday, two guys walked over the dune, walked to the north side of the point and on their first cast, started banging fish. We finished up and went to the club meeting last night. The tired crew planned to be back at it Sunday morning at 6:00 am.

We got to our spot, Lou was there and had a cast in when I got there. Marc and Tom arrived a few minutes behind me, JM and the boys from Team Barrier Island were in place about the same time. Weather was beautiful, light breeze, mild – pre-dawn fishing at its best. Third cast and I’m in, and the fish is taking drag. I got her turned and on the beach, and tag and release the nice fat 33-inch bass. The tide was running hard out, all the water that came over the two bars into the two bowls and out the cut. It was getting late, I had peeled clothes off a few times changing from hoodie to dry top. Two guys in a Jeep Wrangler pull up and park at the point between the two teams. They walk down to the water cast and get a fish. The fishing was fast and furious for a bit. Things slowed as the sun got up. The tide was dropping and the water was getting thin.

The guys in the Jeep Wrangler were fishing in slightly deeper water, and were getting pounded by waves. They fished for a bit and they started backing out to the beach. I yell over “Where ya going?”

They replied, “We’re gonna make some changes, we’ll be back.”

They went back to their truck and changed clothes – they must have gotten wet. Though the fishing had shut off, they came back out and resumed casting.  After a bit, I notice them walking behind me. “We’re going over that way,” one of the fishermen said, pointing to the north. Walking in deeper water in waders is treacherous. The sandy bottom is constantly changing, the waves and current are pulling and pushing you.

My friend Rick and I made a cast, and when we turned to look back, we saw one of the casters has stepped off the bar and into the cut. The water in the cut was deep and it was moving. The fisherman tried to get back on the bar but can’t, and was swept farther out the cut. Rick and I turn at once, and started moving toward the cut. The guy looks OK, head is above water and he’s bobbing in the waves. He turned and started to swim toward the beach. I began yelling to him to swim parallel to the beach,  back to the bar. By trying to swim to the beach, he was fighting the current and making no progress.

Steven Perna and J.M. Basile, fishing on the other side of the cut see what’s going on and begin moving down toward the struggling angler. At this point, the other fishermen from the Jeep Wrangler steps off the bar in an attempt to save his friend, but he lucky finds his footing again. Steven mades a cast at the kid and got a hook into some of his clothing. The rod doubles over, but the angler is slowed down. By this time, the kid is in serious trouble. He’s still struggling to stay afloat, but you can see he’s getting extremely tired. J.M. handed his rod to someone standing on the bar and started wading toward the kid, yelling at him to try and relax.  Realizing the situation was dire, the kid ditched his rod (though they’d later find out his lure had stuck to his thigh and the line had wrapped around his legs). He found bottom with his feet and pushed toward J.M. who grabbed him and dragged him back onto the sandbar. The guy was exhausted, and a group of anglers walked him toward to the beach. On dry land, we laid him on the sand, helped him remove the wet clothes and saw him leave the beach in the fire department vehicle destined for the hospital.  It was a group effort getting this young man to the beach but Steven keeping his head and making a great cast slowed the fisherman down enough so J.M., who was putting his own life on the line, could pull the angler back to safety.  I am proud to call them friends and glad I fish with surf savvy people that keep their heads.

Things can get ugly quickly, so as you finish up your surfcasting season, remember to watch your step, wear your wading belt, and always respect the ocean’s power.