A man was taken to the hospital Saturday after apparently being stabbed by a needlefish while swimming in Ocean County, authorities said.
The man, who was not identified by authorities, was injured while swimming around 11:39 a.m. near the 9th Street beach in Barnegat Light, according to Lt. Patrick Mazzella of the Long Beach Township Police Department.
He sustained a minor leg injury, Mazzella said.
The swimmer was subsequently transported to Southern Ocean Medical Center for evaluation and treatment.
“Based on the available information, there is no indication that this was the result of a shark bite,” Mazzella said, seeking to dispel rumors about the incident.
The cause of the injury “appears to have been a needle fish,” Barnegat Light First Aid Squad posted on Facebook Saturday afternoon.
Needlefish have a long, narrow body and elongated, pointy jaws with sharp teeth, according to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.
They are commonly found in coastal waters, bays and estuaries. While needlefish are not aggressive, they often jump out of the water. This behavior can be dangerous for humans, as they can be struck by the fish’s sharp beaks at high speed, according to the Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization.
In some cases, the penetrating injuries from needlefish can even be life threatening, according to a 2024 case report on needlefish impalement.
Stories by Jackie Roman
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.
Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.