Move over jaws—there’s a new danger swimming around.
Last week, a swimmer was injured by an Atlantic needlefish while enjoying the waters off the Jersey Coast, according to police reports.
This unusual encounter, a rare one between a human and a needlefish—which is like a flying fish but with a long, sharp bill—occurred near Long Beach Island on June 21 at about 11:40 AM.
Needlefish are often seen on the menus of Japanese restaurants, but they’re not typically known for attacks.
The adult swimmer, whose identity remains unknown, was taken to Southern Ocean Medical Center for treatment following this unexpected incident with the fish, also called long Tom.
These fish typically inhabit shallow, tropical, or temperate coastal waters, swimming either close to the surface of the ocean or in brackish areas.
Fortunately for humans, needlefish primarily feed on shrimp and small fish, so at least they’re not targeting us.
Initially, some mistook this incident for a shark attack, likely fueled by the recent sighting of an 11-foot, 761-pound Great White shark named “Dold,” which was spotted near Asbury Park and Spring Lake the day prior.
Interestingly, Dold’s arrival coincided with the 50th anniversary of the movie “Jaws.”
Fortunately, Dold has since moved northward toward Nantucket.
Interestingly, there have been multiple reports of needlefish incidents in recent years.
One notable case involved a young angler who narrowly escaped after a needlefish jumped from the water and struck him while he was fishing in southern Indonesia in 2020.
In 2018, a 22-year-old Thai Navy candidate tragically lost his life after being speared by a needlefish during a training exercise.
The most shocking incident occurred in 1977 in Hawaii, where a 10-year-old boy reportedly died after a needlefish struck him in the eye while fishing with his father at night.
