Whale shark makes rare appearance off the Jersey Shore

A rare whale shark sighting occurred off the Jersey Shore this past weekend. The 125-foot fishing boat, the Jamaica, was conducting a tuna fishing trip in the Hudson Canyon near Brielle on Saturday afternoon when the large fish began circling the vessel.

The whale shark remained with the boat for approximately 45 minutes. While the crew noted that such sightings have occurred a few times before, they described the encounter as a “rare sighting in our waters.”

Whale sharks are the largest known fish in the world, capable of reaching lengths of 40 feet and weighing up to 20 tons. Despite their massive size and wide mouths, they are considered docile “gentle giants” that primarily feed on plankton, krill, and small fish.