As the sun shone down on the creek on a chilly May morning in Mystic Island, novice kayakers and watersports enthusiasts from around New Jersey united along the peaceful waterfront in the hopes of forming friendships and meeting like-minded individuals to take to the water with.

Anna Martin, an Egg Harbor Township resident, has been an avid kayaker for about four years, but had never ventured into the Little Egg Harbor area for the sport until Sunday morning, May 31 for the first Kayaks and…