WATCH: New Jersey fishermen have whale of a tale to tell after nearly struck by massive humpback
Last Monday, one group was fishing off Seaside Heights, New Jersey, when a whale breached right by their boat. Two days later, it happened again – this time to a father-and-son team off Seaside Heights.
Watch: Whales breach next to New Jersey fishermen
Two groups of fishermen got quite a surprise off the coast of New Jersey last week when humpback whales breached right next to their boats.
SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. – Fishermen who had been fishing off the coast of New Jersey last week have quite the fish tale to tell upon returning home as there have been two boats nearly struck by a massive breaching whale.
Last Monday, one group was fishing off Seaside Heights when a whale breached right by their boat.
Two days later, it happened again – this time to a father-and-son team off Seaside Heights.
A large humpback whale breaches next to a fisherman in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, on Oct. 12, 2022.
(Zach Piller via Storyful)
Zach Piller said he and his father Doug had been out fishing each day since Monday. He told FOX Weather he began filming when he noticed a whale's tail poking out of the water nearby and fish jumping right in front of them.
Second later, a massive humpback whale breached right alongside their boat.
"It can really be anything when you see (fish jumping) like that," Zach Piller told FOX Weather. "It could be sharks, dolphins and stuff. The last thing I thought it was going to be was a 60,000 pound humpback whale right in front of me!"
Fisherman recalls close encounter with massive humpback whale
Fisherman Zach Piller shares with FOX Weather the moments a giant humpback breached and nearly struck him and his father off the coast of New Jersey.
He said the whale ended up "kissing" the boat, but otherwise the boat was fine, the whale swam off, and his dad even managed to hold onto the fish on his line.
"I’ve been fishing off the coast ever since I was a kid, and I’ve seen plenty of humpback whales from 100 foot distance," Zach Piller said. "I’ve never seen one so close I could see the barnacles on the underside of them."