Bill McKim’s Jersey Shore Whale Watch Tour
We guarantee you will see a whale
Here are two iPhone photos by passenger Drew D. From Saturdays trip, great photos amazing iPhone photos, if anyone else got some send us a copy to [email protected]
Saturday 7/16/22 Species Report
2 humpback whales 🐋
Hundreds of bottlenose dolphins 🐬 stealing the show as usual:)
6+ Wilson’s storm petrels
4+ shearwaters
2+ cownose rays
Wednesday was a great trip. We started with a Minke whale these whales are the smallest of the big whales and are very fast and difficult to photograph Here are a couple images of the Minke whale we saw off Asbury Park Wednesday
Below is a Minke whale off the coast of New Jersey
The minke whales are the second smallest baleen whale; only the pygmy right whale is smaller. Upon reaching sexual maturity (6–8 years of age), males measure an average of 6.9 m (23 ft) and females 8 m (26 ft) in length, respectively. Reported maximum lengths vary from 9.1 to 10.7 m (30 to 35 ft) for females and 8.8 to 9.8 m (29 to 32 ft) for males. Both sexes typically weigh 4–5 t (3.9–4.9 long tons; 4.4–5.5 short tons) at sexual maturity, and the maximum weight may be as much as 10 t (9.8 long tons; 11 short tons).
The minke whale is a black/gray/purple color.[clarification needed] Common minke whales (Northern Hemisphere variety) are distinguished from other whales by a white band on each flipper. The body is usually black or dark-gray above and white underneath. Minke whales in New Jersey have between 240 and 360 baleen plates on each side of their mouths. Most of the length of the back, including dorsal fin and blowholes, appears at once when the whale surfaces to breathe.
Minke whales typically live for 30–50 years; in some cases they may live for up to 60 years.
We were all excited to see a Finback whale on our trip. Danielle our naturalist had been talking for days about 2 Finback whales being off the coast of Sandy Hook. we found it Wednesday.The families on the boat went crazy see to humpback whales come close to the boat and then we saw the finback whale and we observed it just swimming along. The whale is so huge it did not fit in my cameras view here are some of the photos i took. Join us soon the trips get better as we head towards fall whale migration season.
The fin whale is the second largest animal to ever live, in the entire history of Earth. Reaching lengths of at least 85 feet (26 m) and weights of 80 tons, this species is second only to its close relative, the blue whale. Their incredible size is only possible because of their aquatic lifestyles and the buoyancy provided by seawater. On land, an animal as large as the fin whale would almost certainly be crushed under its own weight.
We have done over 80 trips this was our first Finback whale sighting! all the otther trips have been Humpback whales and some Minke whales
So Wednesday’s trip was interesting, the morning started with pouring rain possible tornado up near red Bank really dark skies for about an hour. The Jersey shore whale watch phone was ringing off the hook with people asking if their trip was on or off or we going what are we doing. Long story short the skies cleared we all met at the marina in the lightest of a drizzle we got onto the boat the skies continue to clear and we had the most perfect day on the ocean flat season one got sick just a great day too beautiful Wells off of Monmouth County and people were thrilled to be out and enjoy something they’ve never seen Wells frolicking in the ocean on a perfect August day come out and join us soon we have plenty of trips scheduled including this weekend we leave from Belmar we have some trips also from point Pleasant we run the best and safest we are watching trip in New Jersey we guarantee will see you a whale.
We go whale watching in New Jersey from April till November, the best months for whale watching on the Jersey Shore.Whales follow the bunker fish and they are now plentiful in our area, join us bring your camera or cellphone, you will get great photos.
Spectacular Marine Wildlife On View For The Lucky Few
Imagine being just feet away from one of the world’s largest mammals in its natural habitat! Onboard our Whale Watching Cruise, you may see humpback whales, bottle-nose dolphins, pelagic birds, sea turtles, and many other species.We have the best Naturalist in the state on board our trips to inform you of the history of whaling in New York and New Jersey. Jersey Shore Whale watch is the leader in whale watching at the Jersey Shore.
A lot of people ask the question who has the best, best whale watching east coast. I wiould say we are right near the top with over 80 trips and we usually see one or more whales in fact our record is over 80 trips and only 4 misses in 3 years so we ahace a pretty good idea. The whales are sometimes hard to spot in choppy seas or on a foggy day. We also rely on uour vast array of boat friends who might spot a whale and then tell us where they are. Fishermna seem happy to help whale watching boats as we are not competion for each other. Boats captains always return the favor to each other of all kinds of marine sights and fishing tips!
Join us whale watching we go just a couple miles off shore to where we expect to see the whales. Our trips are 3 hours long and are designed to give us enough time to spot the whales
SO get your family or group together and join us we even have many people that come alone on our trips! Bring your sunscreen and camera dress in layers, the ocean is cooler than inland! Any questions call us at 732.451.6003 so yes you can see whales in New Jersey and New York, join us best whale watching east coast Jersey Shore Whale watch
Whale Watching Trip Report Belmar and Asbury Park NJ Sunday June 14th
This is a question many people ask? is there whale watching near me. The answer is yes We go whale watching 4 times a week in Monmouth County and can also book a private whale watching tour for you and your group during these uncertain time. We offer many trips whale watching trips in Ocean and Monmouth county.
whale watching near me
Bring the entire family on this exciting Belmar, NJ whale watching trip that you won’t soon forget! See why this is a great time to view whales off the coast of New Jersey!
call today and book your trip 732.451.6003 or online at
Coney Island, Amagansett, The Hamptons, Fire Island, Jones Beach, Rockaways, Sandy Hook, Long Beach Island, Lavallette and Point Pleasant Beach are not the only places to see whales, of course.
Despite what ANY whale watch company may claim, you can never really guarantee how many whales will be seen, or even if any whales will be seen, when you go whale watching. We can guarantee a free return ticket (aka “rain check”) if you don’t see a whale, but you can’t guarantee the whales themselves.
That being said, the extremely high productivity of the Jersey Shore coastline area means that whales are usually here, often in good numbers, sometimes and that’s why we have seen whales (at least 1) on over 99% of our trips since 2018. In fact w sometimes we go years without “skunking” (a “skunk” is whale watch industry slang for a trip in which no whales were seen). Most of the time we “skunk” it is due to fog rather than lack of whales (it’s hard to find whales when you can’t see!)
So while it is impossible to say for certain how many individual whales you will see when you go whale watching the most likely answer to this question is: probably between 1 and 5. Pretty vague, huh? Well, that’s because these animals are WILD. They are not captive creatures in the confines of a zoo or aquarium, and they certainly don’t perform tricks for our amusement.
These whales are wild animals that come here to feed in the biologically rich waters the New York Bight. Their abundance is determined by the amount of food available to them. At times (many times, actually) there are so many whales in the area that we can’t possibly visit with them all in the limited time we have on the water. But at other times it takes cooperation between all whale watch boats and fishing boats in the area to find just one or two whales. We never know what we will see when we leave the dock but that’s part of the fun of whale watching! It is unscripted and unpredictable.
Okay, so if we can’t predict exactly how many whales we will see, how about the best time to go look? When is that?
Well, once again it is impossible to say what time of day, or even what time of the year is best to go whale watching because the answer to that question also changes based on the amount of food (ie small schooling fish) available to the whales.
But before we get too hung-up on the total number of whales we might see, consider these questions: If whales had not been hunted to the brink of extinction would they be the iconic symbol of endangered wildlife that they are today?
I suspect not. Remember that these whales are endangered! Their numbers are only a small fraction of what existed in the pre-whaling era. One of the most exciting things about seeing a wild whale is simply encountering an animal which still teeters on the brink of extinction. It is estimated that less than 1% of people living on planet Earth will see a whale in their lifetime. Therefore, any time you see a whale, even one whale, you are truly privileged. To see many whales at one time, as we often do, is a sight VERY few people will ever get a chance to see.
A few people have been asking me about groupon deals this year so I figure i would write down my thoughts.
Groupon leads to bad sight lines on a boat by having too many people on board, the boat needs a certain amount of money for each trip I would rather have us all pay a few more dollars person and have less people on the boat and better sight lines for seeing the whales .
Crowded boats sell deals and groupons I do not use groupon deals as i want us all to have a safe enjoyable trip and i believe we price it fairly and we deliver.
We guarantee you will see a whale with us if you dont your next trip is free. We fill our boat with happy customers who tell their friends about the special day and safe relaxed atmosphere we provide on the ocean during these uncertain Covid 19 times We are all living in. Any questions call us at 732.451.6003
I think groupon is great for buying an item but not so great if its just going to lead to a full boat, less is more these days book now.
summer 2020 one none of us will ever forget.
Here are some photos from our whale watching trip Belmar Marina July 26 2020 Belmar New Jersey Sandy Hook area
Full report in the morning but i felt like i was on an Alaskan Whale Watching Cruise today off Monmouth County
Sunday’s whale watching trip started out as just another normal trip on a beautiful day with a socially distanced crowd going whale watching. We headed north towards the report from earlier in the day of a whale about three or 4 miles off the coast of Monmouth Beach. We got to the area near Mount Beach, slowed down and indeed our naturalist and captain saw the spout of a whale. For 20 minutes we looked for the whale, which is an eternity when you’re on a boat. We didn’t see the whale really again, after the first two or three spouts a large dredge could come through the area and might’ve chased the whale out of the area, or to the surface on the other side of the dredge. We soon moved further north to try to find the first whale report when I saw a blow a short distance away. That was probably about 30-40 minutes into the trip, after that whale we saw a second whale and then myself and the captain saw a third whale distant behind the boat. We could see that the whale was breaching nonstop, but it was a good 2 miles away. As for the two whales closer to us, they were kind of interesting. One of them had a lot of sea lice on it, and Danielle, our naturalist, wanted to photograph it more to get its tail, but we kind of lost them. Then, we went out to the third whale, who put it on the greatest breaching show any of us had ever seen. The whale didn’t stop breaching, the entire time we were out there he must’ve breached 30 times! If there was ever a whale named after Michael Jordan, this would be the one.
One of the great things about taking people whale watching is hearing them experience when the blow is closer and make it and everybody in the boat seeing the whale. It’s amazing to hear them cheering and just in awe of nature, for most of them have never seen it before. This whale put on a show that none of us will ever probably see again, it was unbelievable, probably once-in-a-lifetime! 30 breaches all over the place, I have some fantastic photos to share with all of you, and they are below. Thanks, we hope to see you soon on Jersey Shore Whale Watch.
Belmar whale watching trip review July 15 2020
Wednesday WAS ANOTHER GREAT DAY WHALE WATCHING THE WHALE WAS JUST 3 MILES OFF THE BEACH IN Asbury Park as we were going north toward the Sandy Hook area
Danielle, our amazing naturalist spotted the Humpback whale from about two miles away by seeing its 20-foot-high spout on the horizon. This trip is an amazing time to just get out in some real fresh ocean air and you can bring your own food and drink beer wine! We also saw a loggerhead sea turtle and spinner sharks, though they were so fast I could not photograph them and when we go closer to where they were they moved away quickly!
Summer is moving fast these days are a great book friends and family now we are absolutely social distance people on the boat, the boat also has a huge 2nd floor sun deck!
Any questions call us at 732.451.6003
jersey shore whale watch
Here are two ways to get to belmar
Belmar Marina trips all summer long
The normality you feel while being outdoor on a warm summer day with the ocean breeze in your face helps you forget about the Covid 19 at least for a few hours, said one passenger yesterday aboard our whale watching trip
Humpback and Dolphin Love 🐋🐬❤️
Tail flukes, pectoral fin slaps, looks like he’s waving 👋 🐋 lunge feeding, missed that picture.
A pod of dolphins smiling as they bow in and out of the water 🐬🌊 gorgeous animals, so. much. fun.
We also saw many dolphins near the whale they were swimming together for a while
Bill McKim’s Belmar Whale Watching – We are the original and best whale watching tour in Belmar, New Jersey. Please check out our whale watching tour dates and save money on your whale watching tickets. Please click here to purchase whale watching tickets). Our tours are 3 times a week. The tour is about 3 hours long and departs from the Belmar Marina (905 Highway 35, between Marina Grille and the big bridge).
We go whale watching every 7 days a week in 3 days a week April and May 2022 June, july aug sept and a complete fall schedlue that runs till late November from the Belmar Marina, on a large 2-level boat with a tour guide on board to tell you what you are seeing. Your whale watching tour tickets can be emailed to you https://billmckim.com/products/bill-mckims-jersey-shore-whale-watch
See humpback whales, dolphins and other marine sea-life off the coast of Belmar, Avon Bradley Beach, Asbury Park, Long Branch, Sandy Hook, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Manasquan, and more.
Jersey Shore Whale Watch has resumed daily operations for whale watching and harbor tours
Face covering is need for boarding the ship , not when seated on the ship but we want you to wear it if you are up and moving around or in the bow of the boat, the boat is huge so there is plenty of sight lines to see the whales and we have had our best breaches when the whale has been to the rear of the boat.
Jersey Shore Whale Watch has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak and adhering to the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, State and City officials.
RMB crew has been maintaining the fleet, both mechanically and sanitarily, at all areas of our vessels and facilities in which passengers and crew come into contact. Some of the measures we have implemented include:
– Disinfectant solution will be available on vessel for public use.
– Passengers will be required to wear face covering, as per NJ State guidelines.
– Crew is required to wear face masks and will be provided with non-medical grade covering.
– Crew is required to wash their hands at least every 30 minutes.
– Crew is required to submit temperature checks before the start of every shift.
– Loading will be executed by using space marks, to allow for distancing between guests, thus avoiding crowded lines.
– All indoor areas will have door air circulation to allow air flow, by means of open doors and windows
– Vessel capacities have been adjusted to avoid large gatherings and to provide social distancing.
– Only packaged snacks and drinks will be served on board.You can BYOB and your own snacks
– Soap, Purell and disposable towels available on vessels.
– Guided passenger flow on the vessel to avoid crowds.
– Indoor areas will be monitored to limit the amount of people that can be inside at any one time.
Additionally, all employees have been given guidelines from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which include; wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
We have been taking employees’ temperatures daily before reporting to work. Employees that are ill or displaying signs of illness (fever, cough) do not report to work. Employees have been practicing social distancing and wear masks. Additional measures will be implemented as directed by our state leaders as we all safely return to normal.
,Jersey Shore Whale Watch will communicate with passengers through our e-mail newsletter, our. We will update as new information is revealed and we will advise when our tours will be operating again.
The health and well-being of our passengers and crew are our highest priority. We truly appreciate the trust that you place in us when you choose to board our vessels. We are all in this together and will get through these challenging times.
Please be safe and we will see you aboard our vessels soon.
Thank you,
Jersey Shore Whale Watch and the crew of the RMB
Some November whale watching photos from our trip down toward Island Beach State Park last week. Cruising along in the ocean looking at Seaside Heights boardwalk from the ocean near sunset was unique.I think everyone on the boat enjoyed the views of the whales with Island Beach State Park and Bayhead Nj in the background.
Book a private whale watching trip in 2020, We have many size boats available to take your birthday group or family out for an amazing day on the ocean. Call us at 732.451.6003 and ask about our prvaite whale watching tours We can go to many places including the New York City skyline, this is a unique trip. Book your whale watching trip today with Jersey shore whale watch.
All five of our unique boats are available for private boat charters in Monmouth and Ocean County. From the luxurious motor yacht, to the small and speedy Fast Cat, the sailing catamaran, and more! Explore all of our different boats and select your favorite for your private boat charter experience. All of our boat rentals at the Jersey shore are operated by our experienced and friendly captains and crew.We have a naturalist on board to tell you about everything you are seeing.
Jersey Shore whale watch since 2016 has been showing people the real giants of the ocean.
5 star rating
Whale Watching trip report Aug 18 2019 , Just amazing ! A Triple Breach
Perfect hot summer weather brought a huge near capacity crowd to the boat everyone was thrilled to see a triple breach! The whale off the coast of Asbury Park was amazing. The Humpback whale breached 3 times in a row , yes i got the first two breaches perfectly the third wtotally out of focus but i will still share it with all of you.
The best comment of the day was by Billy, a great name by the way.. We were coming back into the Shark river in Belmar and billy who works on the boat as a crew and see whales all the time says to me , ” Even i got excited today and I see whales everyday out here!
sightsing was withing 15 mins of leaving Belmar Marina join us soon 732.451.6003
We had a large film crew from Rutgers University with us on this trip they filmed our naturalist Danielle M. Brown, M.S.
@RutgersEENR
PhD student studying humpback whale foraging ecology, Lead Humpback Whale Researcher with
@gothamwhale
, stranding response/necropsy volunteer
We had many opportunities to photograph breaching whale, feeding whale, logging whale moves join us on our next trip Sunday July 28th We leave from Belmar marina at 1:30pm.
This is an amazing experience we had a few birthday parties on the boat also
Brand new program starting July 2019!
The Jersey Shore Whale watch is the only whale watching boat that we know of to offer whale Checks. A whale check is our guarantee and commitment to you. If you come out on a paid trip with us and we are unable to see any whales, you will get to come back this season for free to have another opportunity to see them. While we do see whales very often (Over 96% of the time), we sometimes get unlucky, and that is why we came up with whale checks to truly guarantee our customers a chance at seeing a whale. We go even further in 2020 if we need to extend the trip to find the whale we will, only three times in 2020 did we not seen a whale!
Our trips along the coastline of New Jersey are educational and a relaxing day on the ocean. See you soon, any questions call us at 732.451.6003
Some tips and tricks for our whale watch.
We take a very large safe boats to go whale watching some of the boats can hold as many as 80 people so you don’t have to worry about anything about safety on the boats will be a great time great trip kids of all ages love it I’m not sure I would bring an infant there’s really no reason so if you’re going to really remember anything I would probably gets in the way of the parents are in good time just having to hold the baby the whole time brother was young children are welcome to come on the whale watching trip we leave out of Belmar we do weekdays and weekends weekends
I have spoken to a couple of boat captains finback whales of Belmar off the coast of belmar this week we will be going whale watching in May we won’t be going in April because the fin back whales or migrating north up towards Cape Cod Fish just kind of passing through the area so we will be waiting till the whale are feeding in the in the area is the humpback whales feeding the air is off of Sandy Hook down to Manasquan inlet and we know it’s more predictable trip we will see whales. Whale watching is a fun join is https://jerseyshorewhalewatchingtour.com Jersey Shore Whale Watch Tour 
I haven’t really seen too many this winter looking forward to seeing more humpback wells of the beach and Belmar should be starting next week or so then just picks up and gets really big in the fall you’ll see a lot of whales in the fall
We had a great time whale watching in Belmar New jersey and will do more in 2019
