Dennis R. Smalling Jr., a 33-year-old father from Point Pleasant, New Jersey, was a man deeply connected to the sea. His life as a commercial fisherman was more than a profession; it was a passion that his family said 'married' him to the ocean. In early February 2018, this profound connection with the water would lead to his tragic disappearance, leaving his family and community in a state of shock and grief.
A former antique car repairman, Dennis had been working on scallop boats and, for two months prior to his disappearance, had been a crew member on his friend Paul Matos's 46-foot fishing vessel, the Queen Anne's Revenge. Despite having some reservations about the condition of the more than 60-year-old boat, his loyalty to his friend and captain, Paul Matos, compelled him to join the ill-fated fishing trip. Before departing, he shared a final, loving exchange with his mother, telling her he loved her as she wished him a safe journey. This would be the last time his family would see him.
On February 7, 2018, Dennis Smalling Jr. and Paul Matos were aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, a commercial fishing vessel, when they embarked on what would be their final voyage from Point Pleasant. In the early hours of the following morning, at approximately 1:20 a.m., the U.S. Coast Guard received an emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert from the vessel, signaling that it was in distress about 40 miles off the coast of Barnegat Light. A distress call was also made over the radio. The weather conditions at the time were perilous, with seas reaching heights of 10 feet, winds blowing at roughly 25 miles per hour, and a frigid ocean water temperature of 46 degrees. The Coast Guard immediately launched an extensive search and rescue operation, covering a vast 4,441 square-mile area by both sea and air. The search involved an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, boat crews from Coast Guard Stations Manasquan Inlet and Barnegat Light, an HC-130 Hercules aircrew, and the Cutter Lawrence Lawson. A Good Samaritan fishing boat also joined the effort and located some possible debris.
Despite the intensive search efforts, no trace of Dennis Smalling Jr., Paul Matos, or the Queen Anne's Revenge was ever found. After two days of searching with no success, the Coast Guard made the difficult decision to suspend their search, and the two fishermen were presumed to be lost at sea. The news devastated their families and the close-knit fishing community of Point Pleasant. In the wake of the tragedy, a cross was erected on the beach in memory of Dennis, a place where he was last seen and a symbol of his deep connection to the ocean that ultimately claimed him. His mother and 12-year-old daughter were left to grapple with the profound loss, holding onto the faint hope that he might one day return. The case of Dennis Smalling Jr. serves as a somber reminder of the inherent dangers faced by those who make their living on the open sea. While the exact circumstances of the sinking of the Queen Anne's Revenge remain unknown, his disappearance is a heartbreaking story of a man who was deeply passionate about his work on the water, a passion that tragically led to his untimely death.Last Seen: Feb 7, 2018
