Trip Report: Saturday, November 15, 2025 Best trip of the year?

🌊 Trip Report: Saturday, November 15, 2025

Jersey Shore Whale Watch – Aboard the Jersey Girl

Belmar, New Jersey

We headed down to the boat this morning with high expectations and full camera gear, knowing we only have a handful of trips left this season. At this time of year, every whale sighting feels extra special. If the whales stay and the weather cooperates, we’ll keep going—but once winter takes over, the cameras will rest until spring.

Today did not disappoint.

Only minutes after leaving the Shark River Inlet, we encountered our first humpback whale just a few hundred yards off the Belmar Fishing Club. He was calmly feeding, not overly active, but always incredible to watch that close to shore.

Then came the call over the radio from our friend and crew member DJ, already out on the water:

“You might want to get over here… this humpback is going nuts!”

So we headed south, about 2.5 miles east of the Essex & Sussex in Spring Lake, and when we arrived—wow.

For nearly an hour we watched a full feeding frenzy unfold. The humpback was lunge-feeding again and again, surrounded by diving gannets, gulls, and baitfish exploding at the surface. Moments like this make you ask yourself:

➡️ Are we really in New Jersey?

➡️ Is this truly happening right here in Monmouth County?

Yes. It is.

Eight seasons strong, and the magic still surprises us.

Some guests onboard today were actually riding on their free return trip, thanks to our Guaranteed Whale Sightings policy. They didn’t see whales earlier this season, so they came back—and today the ocean paid them back big time.

The weather was beautiful, the ocean calm, and the mood onboard was pure joy. For me personally, this might have been my best trip of the year. I shot some incredible video, which I’ll start sharing tomorrow on:

📍 YouTube

📍 TikTok

📍 Facebook (right here!)

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⚠️ No Trip Sunday – High Winds

Tomorrow’s trip is canceled due to forecasted 35+ mph winds, even with a west wind that normally favors us. Safety and comfort always come first.

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