This is my personal blog, I write about what I see and experience while I am out whale watching. I am far from a writer but know my way around the ocean and a camera. My focus is documenting Humpback Whales here in the waters of NYC, LI and North NJ also known as the Western New York Bight.

I work for Gotham Whale as their official photographer and Photo Curator of the NYC Humpback Whale Catalog (NYCHWC). As Photo Curator, I focus on markings on the fluke or other areas. I match up the flukes and markings to the whales we have in the NYCHWC. When a humpback whale photo has no match to the NYCHWC, a number is assigned (example NYC00011) and that whale is now in the catalog. If it's a match, we have a returning Humpback Whale to the Western Bight. I also am responsible for GW’s facebook page and share social media responsibilities on Twitter and Instagram.

I go out on a few boats to get these photos. One boat, I own, is named the “SHIP OF FOOLS” (SOF) and I run out of Bay Park, East Rockaway N.Y. The other boat is the famous American Princess (AP) with Gotham Whale (GW) out of Riis Landing in Queens N.Y. The AP is NYC's only whale watching boat and I can't stress this enough...you must get on the AP for a NYC whale watch, it is incredible!

Follow me on facebook, Instagram, Twitter and you can email me at [email protected] 

2 humpbacks off Atlantic Beach - Striped bass lunge feed

October 21, 2023
Went out on the American Princess for a whale watch with Gotham Whale. Conditions were not the best but was way better than what the marine weather forecast was calling for. Actual conditions - West wind at 15kn to 25kn. Seas 2ft-4ft 60ish degrees and no rain. The AP ran east out of Breezy; it was quiet at first. Someone screamed “3pm, two whales...
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RIP NYC0323

August 26, 2023
We have lost another one of our catalogued whales. The whale that washed up on Beach 9th, Far Rockaway NY was #NYC0323 in the New York City Humpback Whale Catalog. NYC0323 was a young female humpback whale that Gotham Whale first catalogued in July 2023. She was documented 11 times since then, and every single one of our whale watching contributor...
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Phil Lesh and Friends GSBMF.

July 22, 2023
Phil Lesh rocked the Great South Bay Music Festival.
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Montauk CRESLI Whale Watch - 14+ whales, 300 Dolphins a few Grey Seals.

July 19, 2023
Gotham Whale had a great trip out of Montauk on the Viking Fleet with CRESLI with Artie Kopelman. CRESLI (Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island) Will be a guest on the AP soon, stay tuned. Conditions were very good. 80 degrees, partly cloudy with 2-4ft waves with 10knt winds. Halfway through the trip the winds dropped down, so did...
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3 humpbacks and 40 Dolphin on the AP.

July 02, 2023
Never trust Meteorologists! The weather reports were for heavy rain and T-storms this Sunday, a total washout!! The actual weather this day was, warm with sunshine, a slight fog and smoke, no rain or thunder and lightning. Again - Never trust Meteorologists! Great day out on the American Princess this past Sunday, July 02. Sea conditions; ESE wind...
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Three active Humpbacks and 100 Dolphins

May 26, 2023  •  Leave a Comment
“WOW…This trip was EPIC”. Not my words, but from the passengers on this Whale and Dolphin watch on the American Princess with Gotham Whale. As a matter of fact, Captain Frank and the crew of the AP said the same exact words and they see this stuff every day! And I will say this trip was EPIC on so many levels. Conditions were good. The waves were...
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Captain Marty Haines service aboard the American Princess

August 25, 2022  •  1 Comment
The American Princess pushed off the dock at 630am on a warm, bright and sunny morning. The destination – Liberty Island, The Statue of Liberty for Captain Marty Haines service. The winds were calm, Upper and Lower New York Bay were glass. Only waves in the Bay were from shipping traffic. The day and conditions were perfect, perfect for a memorial...
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A Whale off the Hook

August 06, 2022  •  1 Comment
A nice day out on the American Princess Cruises 3.5-hour Whale and Dolphin watch out of Sheepshead Bay. Summer conditions: Hazy-Hot-Humid. SW winds 10 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt late. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Chance of showers but it didn’t rain. We spotted the Humpback whale very quickly today, it wasn’t hard. The whale breached and we saw its bright...
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6 whales in Ambrose on the AP

July 31, 2022  •  Leave a Comment
Great trip out on the AP this Sunday July 31st, we meetup with 6 whales in Ambrose. Action packed day! All the whales were lunge feeding, one did an awesome breach (no photos)…a fun time had by all. You have to get out on the American Princess for a whale watch! The Humpback Whale action is amazing right now! The AP docks at Pier 3 – Sheepshead Ba...
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5 whales, a few threshers slaps, sunset cruise on the AP

July 28, 2022  •  Leave a Comment
Went out on the American Princess Cruises Sunset Cruise on Thursday July 28th. We saw 5 whales, a few threshers slaps and some really good Humpback Action. If you haven't been on the American Princess for a Whale watch...NOW's THE TIME! Click on the link AMERICAN PRINCESS and go to this website, book a trip and bring a camera, go see what I see. Yo...
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4 whales, a few large cownose rays and 200+ dolphins

July 03, 2022  •  1 Comment
A very good day on the American Princess Cruises today! 4 whales, a few large cownose rays and 200+ dolphins seen. The sea conditions were very good with light winds around 5 kts, seas around 2 ft, no chop. Bright sunshine, cloud cover 0%, 83 degrees with low humidity, just a perfect day for a whale watch. We headed out of lower NY Bay past Breez...
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