February 12, 2018 — Two New Jersey commercial fishermen are presumed lost at sea after their boat went missing early Thursday about 40 miles off the coast of New Jersey, according to a family member.
The Coast Guard has been searching for the Queen Ann’s Revenge and the two men – 30-year-old Paul Matos, of Bayville, and his crew member, Dennis Smalling – after a distress call was sent at 1:20 a.m.on Thursday reporting that the 46-foot vessel was taking on water.
“Unfortunately my brother and Dennis are presumed lost at sea,” Matos’ sister, Milene Oliveira, wrote on Facebook. “Again thank you everyone, your words of comfort mean everything to us.”
The Coast Guard said the search is ongoing. Rescuers tracked a signal from the vessel’s emergency beacon, but there were no signs of the boat near where the signal was emanating.
“They went to where the signal is being emitted, but there is no visual of it,” Coast Guard Petty Officer Seth Johnson said Friday.
The Coast Guard sent helicopters, planes and ships for the search.
The two men had set out on a multi-day fishing trip on the 46-foot boat late Monday night from what’s locally known as “the clam dock” in Point Pleasant.