Jersey Shore Whale Watch Trip Report – An Incredible Day From Belmar to Sandy Hook
What an absolutely gorgeous day on the Atlantic Ocean! Today’s whale watching adventure aboard the Jersey Girl was a perfect example of why every trip is different and why having the speed and range to explore the Jersey Shore can make such a tremendous difference when searching for whales and dolphins.
We departed from Belmar Marina and headed north along the beautiful New Jersey coastline. Not long after getting underway, we encountered dolphins in the waters around Avon-by-the-Sea and Asbury Park. Seeing dolphins with the Jersey Shore beaches and familiar landmarks in the background is always special. For many of our passengers, this was their first opportunity to see dolphins swimming freely in the Atlantic Ocean.
But we had bigger plans.
Our reports and experience told us that whales had been feeding much farther north, so we continued our search up the coast. This is where the Jersey Girl’s three new, powerful, high-speed engines really make a difference.
Our vessel was completely repowered for the 2026 season, giving us considerably more speed and range than we had in previous years. When the whales are close to Belmar, that extra speed simply gives us more time with them. But on a day like today, when the whales are 15, 20 or even more miles away, the new engines can completely change what is possible on a three-hour whale watching trip.
We can cover distances up and down the coast that many other whale watching boats simply cannot realistically reach during the same amount of time. Whales are wild animals. They don’t know where Belmar is, and they certainly don’t know where we would like them to be! Our job is to go find them.
Today that search took us all the way to the northern tip of Sandy Hook, and it was worth every mile.
We found the whales with one of the most spectacular backdrops you could possibly imagine: the New York City skyline clearly visible in the distance. Whales surfacing in the Atlantic Ocean with Manhattan behind them made for an incredible scene and some beautiful photographs.
It is easy to forget just how close New Jersey is to New York Harbor until you’re standing on the deck of a boat watching a whale surface with the skyline in the background. Add beautiful weather, dolphins earlier in the trip, and a comfortable ride aboard the Jersey Girl, and this was one of those days that reminds us why we love doing this.
Our willingness and ability to travel to where the whales actually are is a major part of what has helped Jersey Shore Whale Watch become one of the most reviewed whale watching companies in America. Based on our Google reviews and rating, we are currently listed as the fifth best-reviewed whale watching tour in the continental United States on Google.
That is something we are extremely proud of, especially considering that Jersey Shore Whale Watch began right here in Belmar. Thousands of guests have shared their experiences with us, helping people discover something many still don’t realize: you don’t have to travel to New England, Alaska or California to see whales. They are right here off the coast of New Jersey.
And our season is far from over.
We now operate whale watching trips through December. Right now, during the busy summer season, we’re running seven days a week from Belmar Marina. As summer demand begins to fall off and we move into the autumn months, we’ll generally transition to approximately five days a week.
In fact, fall can produce some spectacular whale watching. As water temperatures change and huge schools of baitfish move along the Jersey coastline, humpback whales continue feeding in our waters. Every season is different, and every trip is different.
Today’s journey was a perfect example.
We started in Belmar, found dolphins around Avon-by-the-Sea and Asbury Park, continued north using the Jersey Girl’s new speed and range, and ultimately found whales near the northern tip of Sandy Hook with the New York City skyline providing an unforgettable background.
Dolphins, whales, the Jersey Shore coastline, New York City in the distance and a beautiful day on the Atlantic — it doesn’t get much better than that.
Come experience it for yourself aboard the Jersey Girl from Belmar, New Jersey. Whale watching continues through December, and you never know what you’re going to see when we leave the dock.
Today’s photos were taken by our naturalist, Dr. Danielle Browne, PhD, Rutgers University, Head of Research for Jersey Shore Whale Watch. Danielle’s knowledge, experience, and photography help us document the whales and other marine life we encounter while giving our passengers a deeper understanding of what is happening in the waters off the Jersey Shore.
