April 27 Whale Watching Trip Report — Jersey Shore Whale Watch
Sunday, April 27 brought us a beautiful, sunny afternoon — and another amazing whale sighting! 🐋☀️
The winds were strong out of the west, which actually flattened the ocean close to shore. Once you got two or three miles out, though, it got a little bumpier. Knowing that, we made the smart call: stay close and comfortable. We cruised about two miles off Belmar and headed north at a relaxed pace — respecting the North Atlantic Right Whale speed restrictions, which limit us to 10 knots until April 30.
The slower ride actually made the day feel even better — smooth, steady, and easy to enjoy with the warm sun overhead and hot chocolate flowing inside the cabin.
As we reached Monmouth Beach, the Captain made a decision:
“Let’s turn back, head inshore, and see what else we can find.”
That’s when the magic happened.
Just moments after turning, the Captain spotted something — a giant splash about 200 yards off our bow.
At first, it looked like a whitecap from the strong winds.
But a minute later — BOOM! — a humpback whale breached again, right in front of us! 🐋✨
We spent about 30 minutes with this beautiful whale, watching it surface, dive, and give us some gorgeous tail shots near the Channel Club Beach area. Everyone was thrilled. Cameras clicked away, binoculars locked on, and smiles filled the boat.
(And a personal note from me — even after eight years running these trips, I learned a lesson: keep my camera out and ready! Today I missed the breach photo, but that’s part of the fun — you never know when these incredible moments will happen.)
Our onboard naturalist, April, did an excellent job narrating the trip, sharing stories and facts about the whales and the coastal wildlife we encountered. The 30 guests aboard loved it — laughing, learning, sipping hot coffee and cocoa, and soaking in the bright spring sunshine.
Sure, it was a little windy — but inside the Jersey Girl’s warm cabin, it didn’t matter one bit. It was a perfect start to our 2025 season.
Thank you to our amazing Captain for the eagle-eyed spotting, and to all of you who joined us for a day to remember!
Hope to see you all again soon on the best whale-watching boat in New Jersey — Jersey Girl, with Jersey Shore Whale Watch!
Trip Report Filed: 5:30 PM, April 27 — Bill McKim
🎟️ Tickets and upcoming trips: jerseyshorewhalewatch.com
