For the past nine years, Jersey Shore Whale Watch has been introducing thousands of people to the incredible wildlife just off the coast of New Jersey.
What surprises many visitors is that the ocean off our shoreline is home to one of the most exciting wildlife spectacles on the East Coast — humpback whales feeding in the waters of the New York Bight, the rich ocean ecosystem between New Jersey and Long Island.
In the early days of our company, we didn’t even own a boat. We chartered vessels simply because we believed that people needed to experience the ocean firsthand. Once someone sees a whale surface beside the boat or dolphins racing through the waves, the ocean suddenly feels very real.
About four years ago we took the next step and purchased our own vessel, the Jersey Girl, allowing us to build something bigger than just a boat trip — a true ocean wildlife experience.
Right now the Jersey Girl is undergoing a major transformation. The vessel is receiving three brand-new fuel-efficient engines, part of an upgrade approaching one million dollars. When the boat returns to the ocean this spring, she will be one of the most advanced whale watching vessels operating along the East Coast.
But technology alone isn’t what makes these trips special.
What truly sets Jersey Shore Whale Watch apart is the science happening on board.
Our tours are narrated by working marine scientists and graduate researchers studying whales in the New York Bight. These researchers identify individual whales by their tail patterns, document feeding behavior, and track how whale populations are using the waters off New Jersey.
Because our team studies whales year-round, they understand where whales are likely to be feeding and why certain areas of the ocean suddenly come alive with wildlife.
Guests quickly realize they are not just watching whales — they are learning how scientists study them.
Thanks to the incredible abundance of baitfish in our region, the waters off New Jersey have become one of the most consistent whale watching destinations in the country. In fact, we believe Jersey Shore Whale Watch operates one of the longest whale watching seasons on the East Coast, with whales regularly sighted from April through December.
Every trip is different. Some days feature dolphins and seabirds, while other days bring dramatic feeding behavior as humpback whales surge through schools of fish.
For families, photographers, and ocean lovers alike, these encounters are unforgettable.
As the Jersey Girl prepares to return to the water this spring, we are excited for another season of sharing the ocean with visitors from across New Jersey, New York, and beyond.
The ocean still has many stories to tell.
And we can’t wait to share them.
📞 Jersey Shore Whale Watch – 732-592-6400