Crew on Boat Owned by Joe & Jack Cabasso Rescue Stranded Boaters Off New Jersey Coast

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a heartwarming display of courage and compassion, a group of sport fishermen transformed into heroes at sea when they rescued four individuals whose boat sank in the Atlantic Ocean near the Manasquan Inlet on the Jersey Shore, as was reported by NJ.com.  The incident took place on Sunday morning, August 6^th, turning what was supposed to be a day of fluke fishing into a life-saving mission. The NJ.com report said that the fishermen aboard the Gemini, a 56-foot Viking sport fishing vessel, acted swiftly to rescue the distressed boaters, highlighting the close-knit community of boaters on the Jersey Shore and the importance of wearing life jackets while at sea.

As the Gemini, owned by brothers Joe and Jack Cabasso, was preparing to embark on a fluke fishing trip at about 11 am on Sunday morning, they noticed another boat in distress about 3 1/2 miles off the Manasquan Inlet, according to the NJ.com report. The crew immediately realized that the vessel was rapidly sinking, with its stern about to submerge beneath the surface. The report added that without a moment’s hesitation, Captain Chris Davidson turned the Gemini towards the foundering boat to offer aid to the four occupants who were desperately treading water.

“We literally just set up on a drift to go fluke fishing, and Joe turned around to me and said, ‘Chris, I think that boat’s sinking,’” said Davidson, referring to Joe Cabasso, who owns the Gemini with his brother, Jack, as was reported by NJ.com. “And I turned around and I go, ‘Yea.’ The back end of the boat, you could see, was already starting to go in the water.”

“When that boat started sinking it happened so fast that the one gentleman was inside still trying to get the life jackets but another person grabbed him,” Davidson, 49, said, relating what one of the survivors had told him, according to the NJ.com report. Davidson captains the boat for the Cabassos’ personal fishing trips.

The sinking boat’s occupants had no time to retrieve life jackets before jumping ship. The NJ.com report indicated that despite the swift response from the Gemini, the sinking happened so fast that one of the survivors was still inside the vessel, attempting to gather life jackets when another person managed to pull him to safety. The fishermen onboard the Gemini acted promptly, pulling the survivors aboard their vessel, capturing the heroic rescue on video, and posting it on social media, as was reported by NJ.com.

“They were like, ‘Thank you so much for being there, we really do appreciate it,’” Davidson said, according to the NJ.com report.

Following the rescue, Ensign Josh Ledoux, a spokesman for the U.S. Coast Guard, reported that the sunken vessel eventually vanished without a trace, as confirmed by an assessor who examined the area, the report from NJ.com said. The survivors were taken ashore by a New Jersey State Police vessel that responded to the distress call.

As to the actions of the crew on the Gemini, Ledoux told NJ.com, “They’re very tight in terms of helping out other boaters in the area, which is very helpful to us.”

While the cause of the boat’s sinking remains unknown, authorities and rescuers emphasized the importance of boaters wearing personal flotation devices (PFDs) while out on the water. According to the NJ.com report, PFDs can be life-saving in situations where there might not be a nearby “good Samaritan” boat to render assistance promptly. The report also noted that this incident serves as a reminder to boaters to prioritize safety by wearing life jackets, especially during the boating season, when accidents can occur unexpectedly.

The rescue showcased the spirit of camaraderie and unity among boaters along the Jersey Shore. NJ.com reported that the close-knit community’s readiness to aid vessels in distress has been instrumental in ensuring the safety and well-being of fellow boaters. As was reported by NJ.com, the actions of the Gemini’s crew, who promptly turned from sport fishermen to good Samaritans, are a testament to the compassion and responsibility that define this maritime community.

The heroic efforts of these individuals highlight the crucial role of the boating community in supporting and safeguarding one another. As we venture into the waters, let us be reminded of the importance of adhering to safety measures, such as wearing life jackets, to ensure that every voyage is a safe and enjoyable one.