A giant humpback whale got scarily close to a boat off the coast of New Jersey and the fishermen not only lived to tell the tale but caught it all on tape.
They decided to move closer and get a better view.
Then suddenly the whale breached near the small boat, coming within an arm’s length of the group.
Ziolkowski wrote on Facebook, “This definitely was one of the craziest experiences in my life and I’ve had many, who … would have thought I would see some Moby dick s‑‑‑ right here outside the Verrazano on my boys 18 footer …”
The average humpback ranges in size between 48 to 64 feet and weighs about 40 tons.
Two videos were taken from different angles from different boats. Instead of screaming with fear, the group is heard laughing with excitement.
ABC-7 NY reports that “large numbers” of humpback whales are back in the waters off New Jersey and New York for the first time in a century.
Scientists say an influx of menhaden, on which the whales feed, may be responsible. The menhaden population is up because there are more plankton, on which the menhaden feed, thanks to cleaner water over the past few decades brought about by federal and state regulations.
Paul Sieswerda, president of Gotham Whale, which monitors whales in the region, told NJ.com that the organization spotted only five whales in 2011 but 106 in 2014.
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