Gotham Whale

10/09/2026

NYC0146 is off of Cape Cod! Also known as Gharial, we last saw this whale near NYC back in July. This is a good example of just how much Humpback Whales can move around during the feeding season!

Not all of the whales in our NYC Humpback Whale Catalog have names. The ones that do, however, were named through a collaborative effort from scientists and naturalists across the East Coast, initiated by the Center for Coastal Studies and the Gulf of Maine Humpback Whale Catalog.

10/08/2026

Fall is in the air, and with it… migration! 🐋🍂

In the winter, many Humpback Whales in the North Atlantic travel to mating and calving grounds in the Caribbean while others (especially juveniles!) may spend the winter months elsewhere, including here in the Mid-Atlantic. Before then, it’s a rush to eat as many calories as possible before the feeding season winds down.

In the fall months, some whales will hug the coastline of New York and New Jersey to feed on schools of fish as they too travel to their wintering grounds. This can be an exciting time to see whales feeding close to shore, but it also means an opportunity to document new whales coming into the area. That’s where you come in!

This fall, from Long Island to the Jersey Shore, we want any photos of whales that you can capture! At Gotham Whale, we manage the region’s largest database of marine mammal sightings and curate the NYC Humpback Whale Catalog, a collection of data on over 500 individual whales seen here over the last 15 years. This database is built on submissions from naturalists and citizen scientists — like you!

How to submit your sighting:
1️⃣ Take a photo! Whether its your phone or a DSLR, anything works. If you can, try to capture the dorsal fin or the underside of the tail. These can help our team ID your whale, and we can let you know if its a returning or new individual!
2️⃣ Record the location. GPS coordinates are best!
3️⃣ Write down the time.
4️⃣ Take some notes: What are they doing? How many are there?

➡️ Send us your data! To make sure we get your images, please send to [email protected] ✅

Your submission will go towards a growing understanding of these animals in our busy waters and help support efforts to protect them! We can’t wait to see what you see out there!

🚨 All marine mammals, including Humpback Whales, are protected by federal law under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Please maintain safe distances from these animals. If you are going to be on the water this fall season, learn how to keep yourself, your crew, your vessel, and the whales safe at boatingwithwhales.com

📸 by Gotham Whale’s Chris St. Lawrence

10/08/2026

09/30/2026

Do you want the chance to win amazing prizes?!

Join us on October 21st at Flagship Brewery for a fun benefit for Gotham Whale! Food, basket raffles, and MORE!

Just a few of the prizes offered in our basket raffle:
1. A w**e class for up to 20 people from Total W**e & More
2. Free mobile car washes from Side-Street Mobile Car Wash
3. Tickets to Edelman Fossil Park of Rowan University
4. Premium tickets to Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium Wildlife Conservation Society
5. Dinner and a show at The Stand Comedy Club and Restaurant
6. Seal and penguin encounters at Jenkinson's Aquarium
7. Tickets on Miss Belmar Whale Watching, Jersey Shore Whale Watch and American Princess Cruises
8. A Lionel O Gauge 2024 Annual National Train Day Box Car # 242890 from E-Z Catch Model Train Shop
9. An Okuma freshwater spinning rod and reel from E-Z Catch Bait & Tackle Shop
10. A saltwater crab trap from E-Z Catch Saltwater Traps, Pot's & Supplies
11. A Whale Tail Charm from Oni jewellery in Silver
12. A Wave-Breaker Charm from Oni Jewellery in Rose Gold
13. A Gentle Turtle Charm from Oni Jewellery in Rose Gold..and so MUCH MORE!!

Don't miss out on this exciting event to celebrate the of NYC!! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/fluketoberfest-fundraiser-to-benefit-gotham-whale




Special thanks to our sponsors NYC Ferry Jenkinson's Aquarium Joe and Linda Camardo, Pam Brocious, Michael Benigno, Chloe Potsklan, JoAnn and Stan Stacks, and Zachary King!!

Email [email protected] to make a raffle donation!

09/25/2026

You may have heard about whales occasionally swimming up into the Upper New York Bay… well it happened in 1988, too! This newspaper article from the Courier-Post details a Humpback Whale swimming off of Owl Head Park in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Just goes to show that people have always been fascinated by news of these animals swimming in our urban waterways! 🐳🗽

This sighting was around the time when Humpback Whale sightings began to increase in the Mid-Atlantic, from New Jersey to North Carolina. During this time, sightings were most common in fall, winter, and spring. Today, Humpbacks can be found in our study area of New York and New Jersey throughout the year, with some whales spending the summer season here to feed.

09/23/2026

Join us TOMORROW! RSVP via the link in this post.

You’re invited! TOMORROW / 9.23.26 at 6:30 pm at NYU
NYC Plover Project + Riverkeeper + Gotham Whale + The Bee Conservancy panel discussion

as part of Climate Group | NYC Climate Week, co-hosted by New York University Wild Animal Welfare Program

register here: https://luma.com/fu64vhgn

09/15/2026

Did you get your tickets yet for FLUKETOBERFEST??

Join us on October 21st at Flagship Brewery for a fun benefit for Gotham Whale! Food, music, basket raffles, and MORE! Just a few of the prizes offered in our basket raffle:

1. A w**e class for up to 20 people from Total W**e & More
2. Free mobile car washes from Side-Street Mobile Car Wash
3. Tickets to Edelman Fossil Park of Rowan University
4. Premium tickets to Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium
5. Dinner and a show at The Stand Comedy Club
6. Seal and penguin encounters at Jenkinson's Aquarium
7. Tickets on Miss Belmar Whale Watching
8. A Lionel O Gauge 2024 Annual National Train Day Box Car # 242890 from E-Z Catch Model Train Shop
9. An Okuma freshwater spinning rod and reel from E-Z Catch Bait & Tackle Shop
10. A saltwater crab trap from E-Z Catch Saltwater Traps, Pot's & Supplies
11. A Whale Tail Charm from Oni Jewellery in Silver
12. A Wave-Breaker Charm from Oni Jewellery in Rose Gold
13. A Gentle Turtle Charm from Oni Jewellery in Rose Gold

Don't miss out on this exciting event to celebrate the of NYC!! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/fluketoberfest-fundraiser-to-benefit-gotham-whale




Special thanks to our sponsors NYC Ferry Jenkinson's Aquarium Joe and Linda Camardo, Michael Benigno, and Chloe Potsklan!!

Email [email protected] to become a sponsor!

09/11/2026

On this 25th anniversary of September 11th, we remember the many lives lost in 2001. We remember the heros that ran towards the danger, risking their lives for others. And we remember the families and friends that had to continue on without their loved ones.

Many of our staff members were out watching whales today, not far from the NYC skyline. We never take that view for granted. However, we will always remember the day that changed the skyline forever.

09/09/2026

NYC0318, you are cleared for takeoff! 🫡✈️

A NYC frequent-flier for this season, this young whale has quite a knack for going airborne. If you look closely, you can see the JFK ATC tower in the background of a few of these pictures!

There are currently quite a few Humpback Whales (and tons of dolphins!) from Long Island to the Jersey Shore, and we are expecting even more to make their way into the area as we enter the migration season. Keep your eyes peeled, and send us your sightings! See pinned post for details. 🐋

Why do whales breach? It’s impossible to say for certain, but experts think this splashy behavior may sometimes be related to communication, dislodging hitchhiker whale lice, or even a form of play.

📸 NY Marine Rescue Center volunteers Kim and Lorraine
⛴️ Long Island Whale & Seal Watching

➡️ Support Gotham Whale at our upcoming fall fundraiser! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/fluketoberfest-fundraiser-to-benefit-gotham-whale

09/05/2026

The Whale Awareness Act is an important step towards a safe and healthy future for whales and boaters alike! 🐋🛥️

Read the full story via the link in this post’s comments.

Whale sightings are surging off New York City’s coast, with Gotham Whale recently cataloging its 500th individual humpback. As more whales return to local waters, a new state law aims to educate boaters and prevent dangerous vessel strikes.