Brielle – The Sport Fishing Capital of the World!
Before the arrival of the railroad to the shore area, with service to Manasquan Village beginning in 1872 and later extended to Brielle (then known as Union Landing) and onto Ocean County via the Manasquan River bridge in 1880, only the wealthy could afford to travel great distances to vacation. The railroad opened up the Jersey Shore to many more tourists and vacationers. As the word of Union Landing’s natural beauty and favorable location on the Manasquan River and close to the Atlantic Ocean spread, it became a popular vacation spot and fishing destination. Union Landing became a summer destination for families who were looking to spend their vacations enjoying the near-by beaches and the boating and sport fishing activities on the Manasquan River and the nearby Atlantic Ocean.
Traveling by boat through the Manasquan Inlet to the ocean, however, was not always possible. Over the years the inlet would silt up, often after major storms, many times changing the location of the inlet. In the 1820’s the inlet was almost two miles farther north of its present location and came down parallel to the coast, creating a barrier island in present-day Sea Girt and Manasquan. Slowly the inlet migrated south, and by 1879 was near its present location. After the completion of the Point Pleasant Canal in 1925 the Manasquan River’s natural outflow into the ocean instead took the easier path through the canal into the Barnegat Bay. As a result, the Manasquan Inlet filled with silt and completely closed. It was not until 1931 that the Manasquan Inlet was dredged and reopened to the Atlantic.
The reopening of the inlet in 1931, the growing popularity of the automobile in the 1920’s and 1930’s, and the development of powerboats helped make Brielle’s protected riverfront with easy access to the ocean an ideal location for a new sport fishing industry to flourish. With the reopening of the inlet, watercraft that had been landlocked for several years started to venture out into the ocean again. Larger, more powerful boats were built to take advantage of the Brielle’s ideal location close to the spectacular fishing opportunities in the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, located about 70 miles offshore. These more powerful boats were outfitted with large, gas powered Buick and Packard engines, topside controls, and gin poles added to hoist heavy fish over the side, with additional room for angler, guide, and mate. There was also room for extra gas in large steel drums to allow the boats to be able to reach the rich fishing grounds of the distant Gulf Stream.
Many marinas were established along the river in Brielle to berth the rapidly growing sport fishing fleet. Hoffman’s Anchorage was one of the first marinas to be established on the Manasquan River. Other early anchorages included Shibla’s dock, located at the present Bogan dock, Freiberger’s Harbor Inn dock, Feureback & Hanson’s dock, the Brielle Yacht Club dock, and the Anchorage. The Manasquan River Marlin and Tuna Club was started and headquartered at Hoffman’s followed by the Brielle Marlin and Tuna Club at George Mayer’s Anchorage. A great rivalry developed between these two clubs.
Along with private boats came the charter boats and their captains. Two of the earliest of these were Captain Mount of the “Lounger” and Herman Gray of the “Orca”. Many others followed these two pioneers, including John Bogan of the “Paramount”, Robert Ziegler of the “Diana”, Captain Howard “Buck” Shirley, Sr. of the “Frost T Waters”, and his son Captain Howard “Doc” Shirley, Jr. of the “Wanderer” and the “Kit Kat”. This charter fleet concentrated on catching blues, bonita, and tuna, with trolling the usual method of fishing used. Sharks, giant blue fin tuna, marlin, and swordfish were also often brought to the docks in Brielle. The most famous of the local big game fishermen were Lou Marron, his wife Eugenie Marron, and Walt McDonagh, who set several International Game Fishing Association records (IGFA).
Newspapers in the metropolitan areas ran stories and pictures of the large, trophy catches that were landed in Brielle attracting anglers from all over the world. Big game fishermen, whose ports of call included Acapulco Mexico, Havana Cuba, Bimini in the Bahamas, and Nova Scotia, all flocked to Brielle’s river shores. Also, Florida charter captains, attracted by the publicity and a chance to charter in their off season, made the trip north to Brielle. By 1940, Brielle boasted the largest concentration of sport fishing boats on the Eastern Seaboard. Hundreds of fishing craft berthed at Brielle’s docks sailed out to the Atlantic through the Manasquan Inlet every morning. No wonder Brielle was called the “Sport Fishing Capital of the World”.
Today, we look fondly back at these exciting days. While Brielle is perhaps no longer the fishing mecca it once was, Brielle’s riverfront is still the home to a robust commercial fishing fleet and many sport fishing and recreational boats. Every day, fishermen and women, young and old, can be seen leaving the many marinas that still call Brielle home. The times always bring change, but Brielle’s close association with boats and fishing remains a constant and a gentle reminder of the days gone by.
- Union Landing Historical Society of Brielle