A humpback whale off Point Pleasant Beach. (Photo: Jerry Meaney/Barnegat Bay Island/Facebook)
The whale was “enjoying breakfast in a school of fish” just off the inlet, Meaney said.
A humpback whale off Point Pleasant Beach. (Photo: Jerry Meaney/Barnegat Bay Island/Facebook)
While not as common as dolphins close to shore, whales are common in New Jersey waters, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. The six species of whale, including the humpback, which occur off New Jerssy’s coast are listed on both the state and federal endangered species lists, and boaters and anglers are not legally able to approach them if they are in the vicinity.