Ocean Surprises off the Jersey Shore: Our Encounter with a Mola Mola

Ocean Surprises off the Jersey Shore: Our Encounter with a Mola Mola

This week’s whale-watching trip was another reminder that every day on the ocean is an adventure. We left the dock under bright skies but with a brisk wind that made for a choppy start as the Jersey Girl headed south out of the Belmar Inlet. The waves were lively, and the air had that unmistakable fall bite, the kind that tells you the season is changing even though the sun is still warm on your face. Our plan was to follow the shoreline south, an area that has been very productive this fall, with multiple whales and dolphins spotted near Manasquan, Point Pleasant, and Bay Head over the past several weeks.

Despite the rolling seas, everyone was in good spirits. Our passengers lined the railings, cameras ready, hoping to catch sight of the familiar spout of a humpback whale or a pod of playful bottlenose dolphins. As we passed the Manasquan Inlet, the scenery was classic Jersey Shore — surfers testing the waves, anglers along the jetties, and the coastal homes standing proud against the autumn wind. It’s easy to forget how much beauty surrounds us here until you’re out on the water looking back toward shore.

Then it happened. Out of nowhere, Wolf, one of our sharp-eyed regulars, suddenly shouted, “Shark!” His voice carried over the wind, and instantly everyone turned their heads to port side. At first glance, it did look like a large dorsal fin cutting through the waves, but something didn’t quite match the motion of a shark. I laughed and said, “Great eyes, Wolf, but that’s no shark — that’s a Mola Mola!”

Sure enough, what we were seeing was an Ocean Sunfish, one of the strangest and most fascinating creatures in the sea. These fish can grow to be over six feet long and weigh as much as a small car. They look almost prehistoric — flat, round, and wide, with long fins that stick out of the water as they bask near the surface. This one was magnificent, slowly gliding along the left side of the boat, rising and dipping between the swells.

For more than ten minutes we watched it swim alongside us, its fin sometimes disappearing behind the waves only to reappear moments later. Every time it surfaced, the crowd gasped and pointed, thrilled to see something so unusual up close. Even our crew, who spend hundreds of days a year on the ocean, were smiling like kids. It’s rare to have such a long, clear look at a Mola Mola — usually they vanish quickly or are only glimpsed at a distance. This time we had front-row seats to one of nature’s oddest wonders.

Though we didn’t spot any whales on this particular trip, the Mola Mola made the day unforgettable. Encounters like this are exactly why we always say no two whale-watching trips are ever the same. The ocean decides what we’ll see, and sometimes it offers up surprises we could never plan for. Seeing an Ocean Sunfish that close, moving so gracefully through the rolling surf, was a special treat that none of us will forget.

As we turned north to head home, the sea began to settle. The wind shifted, and suddenly it felt like summer again — calm, gentle, and sparkling blue. It’s amazing how quickly conditions can change out here. The same ocean that had been rough and challenging only a couple of hours earlier was now peaceful, the waves smoothing out as if someone had flipped a switch. Passengers leaned against the rails soaking in the warmth, taking photos of the coastline as we cruised back past Point Pleasant and Manasquan.

Even without whales, it was one of those days that perfectly captures what we love about being out on the water — the unpredictability, the beauty, and the thrill of discovery. Whether it’s a breaching humpback, a pod of dolphins racing the bow, or a rare Mola Mola sunning itself near the surface, the Jersey Shore never fails to surprise us. We’ll be back out again soon — the whales and dolphins are still around, and every trip brings something new to see.