JERSEY SHORE – A widely shared social media post claiming that a submarine surfaced off the New Jersey coast stirred alarm among residents, but authorities say there is no evidence to support the report.
The claim originated from a post on Jersey Coast Emergency News, a monetized Facebook page with 409,000 followers. The March 1st post alleged that fishermen near Sandy Hook spotted a submarine close to shore and urged readers to notify the U.S. Coast Guard while warning boaters to steer clear.
The report spread quickly online as tensions escalated overseas amid U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran, fueling speculation among some users.
Some of the followers to the page commented that because of the proximity of naval bases, it would be routine to see such vessels returning to port – but the timing of this post could be viewed as “ill advised” with tensions growing globally.
Jersey Shore Online reached out to multiple agencies regarding the claim. Lt. j.g. Josh Ledoux, a public affairs officer with U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay in Philadelphia, said the agency has no information indicating submarine activity along the New Jersey coastline. He referred additional inquiries to the U.S. Navy.
Jersey Shore Online also reached out to the New Jersey State Police and the Department of Homeland Security. Neither have returned our requests for comment.
Jersey Shore Hurricane News, a popular Facebook page known for vetting information, said it was unable to verify the claim and reminded everyone to rely on verified information from official sources.
The authorities also urged residents to rely on verified information and to not believe everything they see and read on social media.
The situation has renewed criticism of the Jersey Coast Emergency News Facebook page, which has recently come under fire for spreading misinformation. In a recent incident, the page reported an explosion at a store in Wall Township. The police later issued a statement on their own social media channels clarifying that no explosion had occurred. Also, in November of 2025, the Ashley Lauren Foundation, who had been allowed access to posting on the page, had to issue a statement cutting ties with them.
If Jersey Shore Online gets any additional details about this alleged submarine sighting, we will of course bring it to you.
