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] 



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...
Read the Full Post »

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...
Read the Full Post »

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...
Read the Full Post »

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...
Read the Full Post »

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...
Read the Full Post »

1 whale #NYC0086 and 250+ Dolphins on the AP

June 25, 2022  •  Leave a Comment
I was out on the American Princess Cruises Whale and Dolphin Cruises as a spotter, and photographer for Gotham Whale and the AP. Conditions - light winds at 5kts-10kts, seas 3ft-5ft ground swell, 80 degrees, hazy, bright sunshine with some cloud cover. A beautiful day to be out on the water. We charged out of Breezy Point and traversed the ocean u...
Read the Full Post »

3 whales - Jerry

July 30, 2021
Great day! 3 humpbacks – one was Jerry! A few Cownose Rays, a possible large Bluefin breach and some marine birds. Nice day out on the American Princess Cruises whale and dolphin adventure. Get out the AP and see what is going on, its amazing
Read the Full Post »


Two Humpbacks and 3 Grey Seals

November 27, 2020
On 11-27-2020 I was out on the American Princess Cruises Whale and Dolphin watch as a spotter, and photographing for Gotham Whale and the AP, when we encountered NYC0089 off Breezy Point. The whale was with another Humpback and a few Grey Seals (love their faces). The whale was feeding and by the looks of it, having a good time doing it. NYC0089 ha...
Read the Full Post »

3 whales and 200+ playful Dolphin off Breezy and Ambrose

November 04, 2020
Photos taken aboard the American Princess Cruises Whale and Dolphin Cruises. Book your adventure here.
Read the Full Post »



ANOTHER entangled whale off Rockaway.

October 22, 2020  •  Leave a Comment
ANOTHER entangled whale off Rockaway. We (Gotham Whale and the American Princess) came across our second entangled whale in a week! The American Princess Cruises all day Seafari was coming to an end when we saw this Humpback Whale roughly a mile off Fort Tilden, Rockaway Beach, NY. There were two other whales in the area and many dolphins all arou...
Read the Full Post »
Archive
January February March April May June July August September October (1) November December
January February March April May June July (2) August (7) September (6) October (4) November December
January February March April May June (6) July (4) August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July (1) August September October November December
January February March April May June (1) July (3) August (2) September October November December
January February March April May (5) June July (3) August (1) September October (1) November December
January February March April May June July (3) August (3) September (1) October November December