Jersey girl Whale Watching report July 27, 2026

Trip Report 7/27/2026 – Humpback Whales Seen on All Three Jersey Shore Whale Watching Trips! Today was an unforgettable day of whale watching aboard the Jersey Girl, with humpback whales sighted on all three of our trips from Belmar, New Jersey. From the first departure of the morning through our final trip of the day, passengers were treated to exciting and varied humpback whale behavior along the beautiful Jersey Shore. At least four individual humpback whales were identified throughout the day, including several energetic juvenile whales that were actively feeding and moving quickly through large schools of fish. These young humpbacks kept everyone watching closely as they surfaced in different directions, accelerated through the bait, and demonstrated just how powerful and agile these animals can be. Some of the most exciting moments included tail throwing, breaching, and dramatic lunge feeding. During a lunge feed, a humpback whale accelerates toward a concentrated school of fish and opens its enormous mouth, taking in both fish and seawater before filtering the water through its baleen. Watching this behavior in person is one of the most impressive wildlife experiences available anywhere on the East Coast, and today our passengers had several opportunities to witness it from the decks of the Jersey Girl. The fast-moving juvenile humpbacks were surrounded by schools of baitfish, creating an active marine environment that attracted whales, seabirds, and other wildlife throughout the day. The whales frequently changed direction as they followed the fish, giving passengers on different areas of the boat excellent viewing opportunities. Our experienced captain, crew, and onboard naturalists worked together to safely position the vessel while maintaining respectful distances and following responsible whale-watching practices. In addition to the humpback whale sightings, today was also an excellent day for bird watching off the New Jersey coast. Dozens of Wilson’s storm-petrels were observed flying low over the ocean and delicately pattering across the water’s surface as they searched for food. These small seabirds spend much of their lives far from land, making them a special sight for birders and nature lovers aboard our tours. We also spotted several brown pelicans, adding another exciting species to an already impressive day of marine wildlife observations. Every Jersey Shore whale watching trip is different because the ocean is constantly changing. The locations of the whales, fish, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and seabirds can vary from one trip to the next, which is part of what makes each excursion aboard the Jersey Girl a true adventure. Today demonstrated why Belmar has become one of the best departure points for whale watching in New Jersey. Our central Jersey Shore location allows us to explore productive waters near Belmar, Avon-by-the-Sea, Bradley Beach, Ocean Grove, Asbury Park, Long Branch, Monmouth Beach, Sandy Hook, and other areas where humpback whales regularly travel and feed. Whether you are visiting the Jersey Shore for vacation, planning a family activity, looking for a unique date idea, or hoping to photograph whales and seabirds, a trip aboard the Jersey Girl offers an exciting opportunity to experience New Jersey’s marine wildlife. Join Jersey Shore Whale Watching for one of our three-hour inshore whale watching trips this summer and discover why so many passengers return year after year. Guests looking for an even bigger ocean adventure should also consider our upcoming 10-hour offshore whale watching and wildlife expedition on August 17. This extended trip will travel farther offshore in search of larger whale species, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, tuna, pelagic birds, and other marine life that may not always be found close to shore. Space is limited, so advance reservations are strongly recommended for both our three-hour inshore tours and the August 17 offshore adventure. Today’s three successful trips were another reminder that some of the most spectacular wildlife experiences in the Northeast can be found right here off the coast of New Jersey. We hope you will join us aboard the Jersey Girl for an unforgettable day of whale watching, birding, sightseeing, and adventure on the Atlantic Ocean. #Whales #HumpbackWhales #WhaleWatching #JerseyShoreWhaleWatching #BelmarNJ #BelmarBeach #JerseyGirl #WhaleWatchers #BirdWatching #Birding #WilsonsStormPetrels #BrownPelicans #LungeFeeding #WhaleBreaching #MarineWildlife #NewJerseyWhales #SummerAdventure #OffshoreAdventure