WATCH: Whale dies after nearly capsizing boat off Barnegat Bay in New Jersey

Drew Smith
August 4, 2025
Philly
0 Comments

A Minke whale caused chaos on Saturday afternoon in Barnegat Bay, nearly capsizing a boat and tossing one of its passengers into the water before tragically washing up dead on a sandbar.

The incident happened around 3:40 p.m. in an area north of the Double Creek Channel, according to the New Jersey Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC). Officials say a vessel struck the whale, almost tipping over in the process, and sending one person overboard.

Miraculously, no one on the boat was injured.

Whale dies after nearly capsizing boat off Barnegat Bay in New Jersey

SHOCK VIDEO: Whale dead & passenger thrown overboard after boat incident in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey

pic.twitter.com/RcFVWnLysG
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 4, 2025

Kim Mancini of Lacey Township witnessed the whole thing and told ABC’s Philadelphia affiliate WPVI that the sea creature was clearly “in distress” before the collision. She caught video of the mammal surfacing dangerously close to boats, saying it appeared to be trying desperately to get back into deeper water.

“It was really in distress. That’s when it would go under boats,” Mancini said. “It was a crazy experience.”

The MMSC had actually been tracking the Minke for nearly an hour before the accident. They’d received reports of a whale spotted near the Barnegat Inlet and dispatched staff alongside the Coast Guard, New Jersey Marine Police, and Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers.

After the collision, the whale was found resting on a sandbar in shallow water. Rescue crews tried to approach within 30 yards but couldn’t reach the animal due to tidal conditions. Not long after, the whale was pronounced dead.

Officials plan to return Monday with the help of Sea Tow to move the carcass and perform a necropsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The MMSC is advising boaters to keep at least 150 feet away from the whale’s remains, which, if we’re being honest, is common sense unless you’re really looking to turn your weekend on the water into the opening scene of Jaws.