Yes. Over the past decade the New Jersey coast has become a real humpback whale destination, and boats from Wildwood Crest, Cape May and Belmar go out looking for them from spring into December. This fall a couple from Virginia told our team they had come to the Jersey Shore for exactly that reason. Here’s what changed, why the whales come, when to go, and which boats sail closest to Wildwood. Schedules are from each operator’s own website as of November 3, 2026; check before you book.
What changed: the numbers
- From 5 sightings to 272. Gotham Whale logged 5 humpback sightings in the New York Bight apex, the ocean from New York Harbor east to Fire Island and south to Manasquan Inlet, in 2011, and 272 in 2018, Rutgers University reported in 2019.
- They stay for weeks. In a 2022 study co-authored by Rutgers and Gotham Whale that covered 2011 to 2018, 58.4% of the humpbacks identified there were seen more than once, and the average stay was 37.6 days. About 31% came back the next year.
- They’re mostly young. Of the whales whose ages were known, most were young, often under 5 years old. Many belong to the Gulf of Maine feeding population.
- They travel the coast. The researchers matched individual whales seen off New York and North Jersey to whales photographed off Cape May and off Virginia.
Why whales come to New Jersey: the bunker
The short answer is food. Humpbacks eat krill, plankton and small fish, and Rutgers researchers point to Atlantic menhaden, the oily baitfish known along the shore as bunker, as the most likely draw. Menhaden have grown more plentiful over the past decade, and the 2022 study says the whales’ long stays may be tied to how reliably the menhaden are there. Rutgers also credits warmer, cleaner water for bringing more whales close to New York and New Jersey.
Most of that research was done off North Jersey and New York, but the same whales turn up farther south. The Cape May boats work with researchers too: Cape May Whale Watcher has posted about helping a Rutgers whale-tracking team tag a humpback off Cape May.
Whale-watching boats near Wildwood
| Boat | Where it docks | From Coastal Sands Inn | Season, as listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starlight Fleet, Atlantic Star | 6200 Park Blvd, Wildwood Crest | About 1 mile | 3-hour whale, dolphin and bird trip; see their online calendar for dates |
| Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center, American Star | South Jersey Marina, 1231 Route 109, Cape May | About 5.5 miles | 3-hour trip at 1:30 p.m., on the calendar most Fridays through Mondays in November 2026 |
| Cape May Whale Watcher | Miss Chris Marina, 1218 Wilson Dr, Cape May | About 5.5 miles | 3-hour whale trip May through October; the fleet sails March through December |
| Jersey Shore Whale Watch | 905 Route 35, Belmar | About 90 miles north | April through December |
Distances are straight-line from the hotel. Starlight’s own FAQ puts Wildwood 15 to 20 minutes from Cape May by car. All three boats near Wildwood guarantee a marine mammal sighting, whales or dolphins, or you ride again free. Trip-by-trip details, parking and what’s allowed on board are in our guide to whale watching near Wildwood.
When to go
New Jersey’s whale boats run from about March or April into December, depending on the operator. Summer is the busiest season. Fall counts too. Rutgers researcher Danielle Brown has pointed out that humpback migration begins in the fall, so even more whales move through the area, and Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center still has its whale trip on the calendar in November. Dolphins are the closest thing to a sure bet. The Research Center says it sees bottlenose dolphins on about 98% of trips from March to December.
What you might see
Humpbacks are the headliners. The Cape May boats also list fin and minke whales, and the Research Center lists the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale as a possible sighting. Bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, ocean sunfish and seabirds round out the list. Every trip is different, so treat any species list as a maybe.
Tips before you board
- Dress for colder than the beach. It’s cooler on the water, especially on a November afternoon. The 100-foot American Star and Atlantic Star both have indoor cabins.
- Book ahead. The operators say their trips often sell out.
- Prone to seasickness? Starlight and the Research Center sell sea bands and Dramamine at the dock.
- On your own boat or kayak? NOAA Fisheries asks everyone to stay at least 100 yards from whales, and federal law requires 500 yards from North Atlantic right whales.
Make a weekend of it
In winter, pair a boat trip with our list of things to do in Wildwood in winter. Around the holidays, both Cape May fleets list Santa cruises, and Cape May’s Christmas Candlelight House Tours run on December Saturday nights; see Christmas in Cape May.
Where to stay
Coastal Sands Inn, 4110 Atlantic Ave, Wildwood, is open from mid-October through April. It’s about a mile from the Starlight Fleet dock in Wildwood Crest and about 5.5 miles from the Cape May marinas. Book Coastal Sands
Planning a summer whale trip? Beachside Resort, Sunset Beach Hotel, Sunrise Inn and Paradise Inn reopen in April. Compare all five on our hotels near Cape May page.
Quick answers
Is New Jersey good for whale watching?
Yes. Humpback sightings in the waters off New York and northern New Jersey went from 5 in 2011 to 272 in 2018, according to Gotham Whale data reported by Rutgers, and boats from Wildwood Crest, Cape May and Belmar go out looking for them from spring into December.
When is whale-watching season in New Jersey?
Roughly March or April through December, depending on the boat. Cape May Whale Watcher’s fleet sails March through December, and Jersey Shore Whale Watch in Belmar sails April through December.
Why are there so many whales off New Jersey?
Food. Rutgers researchers link the rise to Atlantic menhaden, known locally as bunker, which have become more plentiful, along with warmer, cleaner water.
Can you go whale watching from Wildwood?
Yes. Starlight Fleet’s Atlantic Star runs a 3-hour whale, dolphin and bird trip from 6200 Park Blvd in Wildwood Crest, and two Cape May fleets sail about 5.5 miles south.
Can you go whale watching in New Jersey in November?
Yes, on some boats. As of November 3, 2026, Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center’s booking calendar lists its 1:30 p.m. whale, dolphin and bird watch on most Fridays through Mondays in November. Check before you go.
Sources: Rutgers University news releases (August 8, 2019 and July 14, 2022), NOAA Fisheries marine life viewing guidelines, and the operators’ websites and booking calendars, checked November 3, 2026.
