19 November 2023 , 18:20
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Footage captured the heart-stopping moment a fishing boat was unexpectedly rocked by a massive humpback whale emerging from the deep
Footage captured by Kenny Namowitz and his guests during a charter fishing trip off the coast of New Jersey, reveals the whale diving close to the shore and resurfacing just metres from their vessel, the Mimi VI. The dramatic scene unfolded as the humpback, after a deep dive, surged out of the sea right next to the fishing boat, causing a commotion as scores of fish were sent airborne.
The impact of the whale's emergence even resulted in a thud against the boat's hull. A startled passenger can be heard exclaiming, "She's trying to come in the boat!"
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In the midst of the excitement, the whale bid its farewell with a wave of its fin before disappearing into the depths. Despite the intense moment, Kenny Namowitz, who docks in Point Pleasant, remained unfazed.
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Scores of fish were sent flying, and the whale's impact thudded against the boat's hull (Credit: Pen News/Mimi VI NJ)He said: "We knew the whales were there that morning. There were three of them, all humpbacks, two were feeding together, and one was on its own, lunge feeding."
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Namowitz described the encounter as a blessing and one of his top five incredible moments on the ocean. He recounted, "She was right against my boat – she rubbed the boat on her way down." Expressing gratitude, he added, "I felt blessed! Everyone else was astonished and knew how fortunate they were to experience that moment."
The whale dived close to the shore before reappearing just meters from Namowitz's fishing boat (Credit: Pen News/Mimi VI NJ)The humpback whale, identified as the most common species along the New Jersey coast by Save Coastal Wildlife, a local non-profit organisation, is believed to be lured close to the shore by abundant and varied food sources, including small schooling fish and zooplankton, as well as the clean water.
Kenny Namowitz filmed a heart-stopping moment as a massive humpback whale surfaced (Credit: Pen News/Mimi VI NJ)Typically ranging between 25 and 40 feet long, humpbacks are a familiar sight in the region's waters. Namowitz hopes that the video of this extraordinary encounter will raise awareness about the vibrant marine life nearshore. Reflecting on the experience, he said: "I hope that the video brings awareness to people that there's so much life out there, and we weren't even far offshore!"