A Whale Shark Up to 30 Feet Long Circled a New Jersey Fishing Boat for 45 Minutes

BRIELLE, N.J., Oct. 24, 2026 — A fishing trip off the Jersey Shore got a very large visitor this month: the biggest fish in the world.

A whale shark estimated at 27 to 30 feet long circled the Brielle party boat Jamaica for about 45 minutes on Oct. 10 in the Hudson Canyon, about 97 miles offshore, NJ.com and Daily Voice reported. Anglers on board recorded video of it.

## A Rare Visitor

Whale sharks are filter feeders that eat plankton and small fish, and they're harmless to people. They usually live in warmer tropical waters, which makes a sighting off New Jersey unusual.

Capt. Erik Bogan told the outlets it was only the latest of a handful of whale sharks he's seen offshore, with previous sightings in 2015 and around 2005.

## Just Swimming By

The shark kept circling for about three-quarters of an hour, and the encounter was captured on video, News 12 New Jersey reported.

For the anglers, it beat anything they could have reeled in.

> What We Know
> - What: A whale shark, the world's largest fish, estimated at 27 to 30 feet long
> - Where: The Hudson Canyon, about 97 miles off the New Jersey coast
> - When: Oct. 10
> - Boat: The Brielle party boat Jamaica, captained by Erik Bogan
> - How long it stayed: About 45 minutes

Sources: NJ.com · Daily Voice · News 12 New Jersey