Offshore Wrecks

Here is some interesting information on a little known wreck. But it’s not a ship, it’s a buoy.

I was 10 years old the first time my father took me out shark fishing. We fished out of Merrick aboard my Uncle Ed’s boat. That was in 1964. We fished in the vicinity of a buoy far out in the ocean, and it was known as, “The Experimental Buoy.”

The photo below is of a Mako my dad caught in June of 1962. The fish bottomed out a scale that went 450lbs. This fish was caught within a 5 iron shot distance from the buoy. Many sharks were caught in that area. My first trip there in 64’ produced 3 Blue Sharks.

But what was this experimental buoy?
Here’s an AI Overview……..

AI Overview









The term "atomic buoy" refers to an experimental U.S. Coast Guard navigational aid launched in 1961 that was powered by a miniature nuclear generator, not a standard buoy in Long Island. While there are many regular buoys and some that have washed ashore, like a wayward "Nun" buoy in 2019, the "atomic buoy" was a short-lived experiment in nuclear power for navigational lights.

• The original experiment: The "atomic buoy" was an experimental U.S. Coast Guard navigational aid launched in 1961.
• Nuclear power: It was powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) from the SNAP program (Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power).
• Purpose: The goal was to create a long-lasting beacon that could operate for years without maintenance, using a 10-watt generator to power a 7,500-candlepower light.
• Result: The experiment was successful in demonstrating the feasibility of nuclear power for remote navigational aids, but the "atomic buoy" was a specific, temporary project and not a permanent fixture.

This link will provide some more information….

• The entire Atomic Buoy Experiment ended in 1966 as they were not able to acheive the longevity that the engineers thought possible. So they were taken out of service. That is, all but one of the buoys. One of the buoys disappeared prior to the U.S. Navy operation to remove them.
• So what happened to this one?
• Legend has it that a particular party boat captain, who shall remain nameless, sunk the buoy. Other fishing vessels that might happen by the buoy, and see this particular well known party boat on the hook in the distance, could triangulate his position. So, his solution to the problem was to…………. sink the buoy.
• And to this day that buoy remains on the ocean floor. I know it’s exact location, thanks paulh. It’s not a big piece, but holds some nice memories for me, and some nice Sea Bass.

Any danger from radiation ? Did your dad eat that Mako Shark ? I remember catching my first shark in 1973 off Montauk . Do you remember what Merrick was like in 1964 ? , I was born that year. The marsh went right up to Merrick Road , they illegally pumped sand from Merrick bay to fill in the marsh land there and later built the homes in South Merrick. That's why Merrick Bay has deep holes.

Fascinating stuff!

We'll never know how close we were to speaking German!

Any danger from radiation ? Did your dad eat that Mako Shark ? I remember catching my first shark in 1973 off Montauk . Do you remember what Merrick was like in 1964 ? , I was born that year. The marsh went right up to Merrick Road , they illegally pumped sand from Merrick bay to fill in the marsh land there and later built the homes in South Merrick. That's why Merrick Bay has deep holes

As to any radiation danger…….not that I’m aware of. I would think it was a pretty low dose, and well contained, but I don’t know. We ate the Mako, and although I cannot remember what it taste like, I do remember my mom and others saying it was terrible. Mako’s that size are not the greatest eating. Couple that with the fact they probably didn’t have much, if any ice on board. I have memories of the drink/food cooler having these small red plaid looking cans that you froze at home and those were used used to keep things cold in the old metal cooler. By the time they got that Mako back to the dock, steaked it, etc, it probably had been out in the sun for quite some time. Just my guess.

Guess who was the last U Boat Captain to die ? He sank the British Tanker Coimbra and the Norwegian Tanker Norness in January 1942 off Long Island. His name ? He died in June 2018 at the age of 105.

They have a reef planned to be built in 100 feet of water South of Jones Inlet.

Guess who was the last U Boat Captain to die ? He sank the British Tanker Coimbra and the Norwegian Tanker Norness in January 1942 off Long Island. His name ? He died in June 2018 at the age of 105.

I didn’t guess, I googled 😂

AI Overview




The U-boat captain who died at age 105 in 2018 was Reinhard Hardegen. A commander during World War II, he was known for his role in Operation Drumbeat, which brought German submarine warfare to the U.S. East Coast in early 1942.

• Commander: Hardegen commanded the U-123 during Operation Drumbeat.
• Notable actions: He was known for sinking numerous Allied ships off the North Carolina coast and for being close enough to Manhattan to see its lights.
• Death: He passed away on June 9, 2018

They have a reef planned to be built in 100 feet of water South of Jones Inlet.

Do you know what the reef will be made of, and when is it planned for?

I've fished the Norness. Pollock mostly with some Red Hake. 200 or so feet of water. Had some banner days there but it's a long ride with only one other wreck nearby.

Do you know what the reef will be made of, and when is it planned for?

Do you know what the reef will be made of, and when is it planned for?I read it's just rocks now . 16 fathoms , the 16 Fathom Reef. They should sink one barge/ ship /rock pile after another in a big long straight line instead of in a big giant lump they do now. But outside 3 miles the reef will have Lobster Pots and we all know how irritating they are with all the rigs lost. Would be good for summer trolling. Hawaii puts Fish Attracting Devices ( FADS) offshore to attract game fish like Marlin , Mahi Mahi, maybe NY can do the same after they put the windmills out there someday.
Almost 84 years and the Ships sunk by U Boats are still on the bottom pretty much intact and attract a hoard of fish. The Virginia was sunk by a WW1 U Boat and that wreck is still going strong. That was the only U Boat Victim I ever fished over. The Virginia was a 340 Foot Norwegian Freighter and was sunk August 1918 in broad daylight . U Boat fired a torpedo and the torpedo went under the ship and turned around and came back and hit the ship. All the crew survived and they rowed back to Fire Island. Imagine what that must of been like !

Haven't fished the Virginia in quite some time but it was quite the spot once upon a time.

I've fished the Norness. Pollock mostly with some Red Hake. 200 or so feet of water. Had some banner days there but it's a long ride with only one other wreck nearby.

Did you fish the wreck on a Party Boat ? The Andrea Doria, the 570 Foot Republic Ocean Liner , The USS Spikefish WW 2 Submarine and another Big Freighter aren't too far away.Just looked at a map of the area. Twin engines are needed for a trip like that ! I could see that wreck being good for Pollack with Jigs. So much fun catching them jigging. I remember over 50 years ago going out to Montauk to fish the Andrea Doria Wreck. I still remember that like it was yesterday. I was 10 years old and my brother was 13, we took the LIRR out to Montauk all by ourselves and walked to the Peconic Queen Dock . Fellow fisherman saw us walking to the docks and gave us a ride to the docks. Bought me and my brother a dinner at Salivars free of charge. What a nice guy !!!! We slept on the Peconic Queen in bunks after the Captain told us the trip was cancelled due to bad weather , Went out the next day and fished maybe 2 miles off Montauk Point and a guy caught a 40 pound Cod , my brother hooked it also but the other guys hook was in the mouth and they gave it to him. I caught my first ever Cod about 5 or 6 pounds. Had no idea what the Andrea Doria was, sounded so exotic to a 10 year old kid.

All private boat. Fished the Virginia in a 23' Seacraft!

The WW2 Destroyer USS Baldwin ran aground off Montauk in 1961 while being towed to Philadelphia and the Navy towed it 65 miles offshore and scuttled it and sank it just past the Continental Shelf drop off and it's in 1000 plus feet of water. They say 1000 plus feet of water, but why is the wreck covered in fishing nets and fishing line ??????????? I just saw a picture of it underwater so it can't be more than 400 feet or so.

Haven't fished the Virginia in quite some time but it was quite the spot once upon a time.

The Virginia is more than likely the wreck of the SOMMERSTAD. No artifacts have been brought to the surface to make this a positive I.D., but ship historian Eric Gary came to this conclusion after extensive research. She was originally discovered back in the day by Jay Porter who told his crew he had discovered a “virgin wreck,” and so the name “Virginia wreck” stuck.

To this day she lies within the Compass Rose, and attracts many pelagic’s. A very “fishy” area.

I haven't wreck fished in quite some time but I remember the huge Hake we would catch on bait, at night during slack tide. 40-60lb fish. We called them pussbags............not exactly sure what type of hake it was but we would catch a.bunch.every trip.

Here’s lies a famous “wreck” that will light up your scope……. Was a great starting point to get on the troll……..

26313.0
43267.8

🤔

TDs.........lol

TDs.........lol

lol, showing your age……..