Sands at the inlet have shifted before, but the low-tide sandbar is larger than anything seen there before, the congressman said.

“We are gravely concerned that it will pose a serious hazard to navigation,” Smith said.

The Corps’ survey will determine any actions that need to be taken for the safety of commercial and recreational boaters on the inlet.

“Nobody knows these waters better than the veterans of our local fishing community, so it was important to have Capt. Howard Bogan on the phone to share his first-hand knowledge and experience of sailing through the channel in the last two weeks,” Smith said. “His expertise and insights helped illustrate the need to survey the inlet to see exactly where the shallow spots lie.”

During the call, Smith also asked the Corps to study the channel depth throughout the inlet, noting that if the issue worsens, larger vessels, including the commercial fishing fleet, could experience groundings.

“Should that happen, it would be both very dangerous and extremely costly,” Smith said.

“Under fair weather conditions, boats can steer clear of the sand bar, but with a 25-knot wind pushing them around, it will be very dangerous — especially if the sandbar continues to grow at the current rate,” Smith said.

Smith also spoke with Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Paul Kanitra and Councilperson Michael Ramos, who discussed their concerns about the situation’s effects on the local fishing community and the dangers of visitors standing too close to speeding boats in the inlet.

The congressman also met with charter boat captain David Goldman of Shore Catch Guide Service, who explained how the shifting sands have changed the wave action at the mouth of the inlet, making it more challenging for smaller boats to traverse the waterway during the peak summer season.