Breaching Whale Surprises New Jersey Fishermen

A father and son fishing in the waters off the coast of New Jersey got quite a surprise when a whale breached and knocked against their boat on Wednesday, October 12.

Zach Piller said he and his father Doug had been out fishing Monday and Tuesday, but on Wednesday, they had both woken up with a “strange feeling about whales,” Zach told Storyful.

The pair spotted sharks and dolphins earlier in the day, but when Zach pulled out his phone to take a video of his dad’s catch, the sea creature they captured on camera was much larger than they were expecting.

Zach said his father managed not to lose his fish, and “wasn’t fazed at all.” Credit: Zach Piller via Storyful

Video transcript

[CRANKING FISHING ROD]

- Uh-oh.

[WATER CRASHING]

(SHOUTING) Oh, [MUTED]! Oh, [MUTED]! Oh, [MUTED]! I got that on video! Holy [MUTED]!

- Whoo!

- (SHOUTING) What the [MUTED]?

[LAUGHTER]

Still got your fish hooked?

- I still got it!

- (LAUGHING) What the [MUTED]?

[CRANKING FISHING ROD]

- Uh-oh.

[WATER CRASHING]

(SHOUTING) Oh, [MUTED]! Oh, [MUTED]! Oh, [MUTED]! I got that on video! Holy [MUTED]!

- Whoo!

- (SHOUTING) What the [MUTED]?

[LAUGHTER]

Still got your fish hooked?

- I still got it!

- (LAUGHING) What the [MUTED]?

[CRANKING FISHING ROD]

- Uh-oh.

[WATER CRASHING]

(SHOUTING) Oh, [MUTED]! Oh, [MUTED]! Oh, [MUTED]! I got that on video! Holy [MUTED]!

- Whoo!

- (SHOUTING) What the [MUTED]?

[LAUGHTER]

Still got your fish hooked?

- I still got it!

- (LAUGHING) What the--