Whale Watching Report – Four Whales and Dolphins Spotted Off the Jersey Shore Near Avon, Asbury Park & Long Branch!
Date: [Insert Date]
Location: 7–8 miles off the Jersey Shore near the Mud Hole
Trip Type: 12:30 PM Afternoon Whale & Dolphin Watch
What an unforgettable day on the water during peak whale watching season here in New Jersey! Despite some early morning radar concerns, the weather cleared up just in time for our afternoon whale watching trip. It turned out to be one of our most exciting trips yet—featuring four humpback whales and hundreds of dolphins just off the coast of Avon-by-the-Sea, Asbury Park, and Long Branch, New Jersey.
🐬 Morning Dolphin Cruise
Our morning 2-hour dolphin cruise kicked things off with energy and excitement—passengers were treated to hundreds of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, traveling in large, playful pods just outside the Belmar Inlet.
🐋 Afternoon Whale Watch: 4 Whales & Action-Packed Feeding
On our afternoon 3-hour tour, we headed northeast out of the Belmar Marina. As we passed under the Rt. 35 bridge, we spotted a black-crowned night heron, an osprey, a cormorant, and even a mute swan—a promising start for nature lovers.
Just about 7 to 8 miles offshore, in the area known as the Mud Hole, we found a pod of dolphins and then the stars of the show: FOUR humpback whales!
We had a tough choice—multiple whales were active in different directions! We ultimately saw and identified whales NYC0146, NYC0318, and NYC0267—all part of the New York City catalog of individually tracked whales.
🌀 Lunge Feeding, Bubble Clouds & More
One of the whales began lunge feeding, charging through bait balls of fish. Then we witnessed multiple double lunge feeds—a thrilling behavior where the whale comes up through a school of fish not once, but twice in quick succession. Passengers caught the action from both levels of the boat as we watched pectoral fins slice through the water and even saw the classic whale “bubble net” used to corral prey.
If you’ve never smelled whale breath or seen whale poop, you’re missing some of the real, raw wonders of nature! Our guests were totally immersed in the experience.
👨👩👧👦 Visitors From San Antonio, Texas
A warm shout-out to a lovely couple visiting from San Antonio, Texas—we’re thrilled you got to witness such an epic trip with us here on the Jersey Girl, New Jersey’s only full-time whale watching boat.
📅 Book Now – Peak Season Is Here!
The whales are here, the dolphins are here, and the Jersey Shore’s peak whale watching season is in full swing. Don’t miss your chance to join one of our upcoming trips departing from Belmar, NJ, just minutes from Avon, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, and Long Branch.
📍 Guaranteed Whale Sightings
🌊 Family-Friendly & Photographer Approved
📸 Tag us @jerseyshorewhalewatch on social media with your photos!