THE ANGLER’S CLUB OF ABSECON ISLAND
Established in 1923 as a fishing pier, work began very soon after on the construction of the fishing pier structure. It has remained a private fishing pier all these years and has endured all the challenges that Mother Nature brings.
In 1944, a hurricane destroyed the Margate boardwalk and part of the pier. It was rebuilt and damaged again in the mid-sixties by yet another major storm. Then in 1989, a fire started at the end of the pier and an entire section was destroyed. Finances were not available at that time which cause the loss of some of the distance out to the Atlantic Ocean. A new outer tee built was constructed at the location that the fire was halted.
In 2008, it was learned that the pilings, stretchers, and hardware under our building were in need of repair. The project was immediately acted upon and all recommended repairs, including 17 pilings which extended onto the beach, were replaced.
Then came the storm of the century! In October of 2012, Hurricane Sandy beat and battered all she touched. The result was surveyed and some of the original pilings at the inner tee were broken and the entire tee was listing at a severe angle. The engineers stated that 16 pilings were to be replaced immediately and further recommended that an additional 14 be replaced in about 5 years. Thanks to our loyal members and good financial stewardship, the Club again committed to all necessary repairs and replaced all 30 pilings and other related work at a cost of $110,000.
All of these repairs and replacements made to the pier were paid by the Club’s operating fund supported by our loyal members, many of whom have been longstanding members, even during these difficult times. There is no insurance because the cost to insure a 500’ wooden structure, which sits in the ocean susceptible to all types of weather is highly prohibitive and unbelievably expensive. There are no grants from any local, state or federal governmental agencies that would be available to support the Club. These catastrophic expenses, usually occurring every 20 years or so, have taught us to behave in a very fiscally conservative way. We know it is not a matter of if another catastrophe will affect the pier and all associated property, but when.
In 2017, the State of New Jersey mandated the dunes and beach reclamation project to protect its shoreline, from north Jersey to south Jersey, from another catastrophic Storm of the Century. Again, the Club was faced with how it was to continue to support the objective for which the club was formed, fishing. In order to recover the water levels destroyed by the State of New Jersey’s dunes and beach reclamation project, the Club worked with the State for funding so the pier could be extended into the Atlantic Ocean to previous water levels. The State of New Jersey agreed to fully fund extending the pier 125’. The State also confirmed their intention to replenish the beaches every 3 to 5 years, which will result in the same lack of suitable fishing water levels our anglers regularly experience. Through the loyalty of our membership and the generosity of our member donations as well as good fiscal stewardship, the Club allocated the funds needed to help pay for an additional 175’ extension.
The future for The Angler’s Club of Absecon Island is very bright and welcoming. We are appreciative of our membership, especially those who have supported us through adversity over these many years. We welcome our new members and look forward to their involvement and support over the next great many years.
