Fishermen Rescued

Two rescued from sport fishing boat off South Shore


MATTHEW CHAYES June 8, 2008 Newsday.com
Two fishermen were rescued south of Moriches Inlet after their sport fishing boat sank, the Coast Guard said yesterday.

A private boat, supported by Coast Guard vessels, helped bring the men to safety Friday night. The authorities identified them as Greg Mastonardi, owner of First Light, the 33-foot Topaz vessel sport fisher, and passenger, Mark Edwards, said John Olsen, a civilian search and rescue controller at the Coast Guard's Sector Long Island Sound in Connecticut.

Olsen said the men were going from Egg Harbor Inlet in New Jersey to Shinnecock Inlet on Long Island when the boat began to sink. Mastonardi then called for help around 5:30 p.m. when he realized they couldn't stay aboard any longer.

The Coast Guard dispatched a 47-footer from Shinnecock and a 27-footer from Moriches, Olsen said. A private boat arrived shortly after 6 p.m. and rescued the two men. A Coast Guard helicopter out of Cape Cod was sent back after authorities determined it was not needed.