WHALE SIGHTINGS

WHALE WATCH SIGHTINGS

Unlike our resident bottlenose dolphins no one can predict you will see a whale at any particular time or place and much depends on weather conditions. However, approximately 9,000 Humpback whales will pass Port Stephens on their northern migration between May and August and then again as they head back south between August and mid November.

However, Moonshadow Cruises will offer you a free return cruise (stand-by basis) if you don't see a whale!

2009 Whale Sightings Update

Check out up to date sightings of whales and other marine life from Captains Chris, Michael & Matt on Moonshadow V...

Fri 3/07/09 - Skipper Jack & Lisa did a great job of entertaining the passengers today spotting 2 whales breaching off Fingal Island in the morning and a whale and seal in the afternoon. Yes you heard right, both whale and seal were riding the bow waves, a rare and spectacular sight!

Thur 2/07/09 - Skipper Chris and Cath had another great day of whale watching today spotting a whale off Tomaree headland in the morning and another whale in the afternoon. The whale they caught up with in the afternoon was extremely active with a whole heap of tail slapping and breaching.

Tues 30/06/09 Captain Jack, Kevin & Matt. Nine Humpbacks were spotted at the heads chasing each other and coming very close to the boat. One Humpback made an unusual trumpet like noise!

Mon 29/06/09 Captain James, Julie. Three humpbacks spotted off Fingal Bay with more tails slaps, body rolls and breaches.

Sun 28/06/09 Captain Chris, Kevin & Shireace. Whales everywhere. As soon as we got to the heads there were three whales in front of us and two whales behind us, with another whale breaching on the horizon.

Sat 27/06/09 Captain James, Julie & Matt Two pods of two Humpbacks each were spotted off Cabbage Tree, breaching and tail slapping.

Fri 26/06/09 - Captain James and Lisa had one of the most memorable whale watch cruises ever today. Three whales were spotted off Cabbage Tree on the morning cruise but it was the afternoon cruise that passengers and the crew will never forget. Passengers were entertained for a whole hour by a breaching whale. It was estimated that this active giant breached about 50 times and did a whole lot of tail slapping as well. A truly unforgettable day!

Thurs 25/06/09 - When Captain Michael was asked how many whales they saw today he responded with "We've lost count, it was incredible, probably about a dozen or more". The whales were very curious on both the morning and afternoon cruise coming right up to the boat, rolling around and showing off their bellies. The dolphins were also out in full force with large pods of common dolphins riding the bow waves.

Wed 24/06/09 - Captain Jack and Michael caught up with 2 humpback whales on both the morning and afternoon cruise just off Fingal lighthouse.

Tues 23/06/09 - Capt James, Julie. Another day with plenty of whales and a tail slap quite close... plus a beautiful turtle.

Mon 22/06/09 - Capt Michael, Julie saw three pods of whales North of Fingal lighthouse... some breaching.

Sun 21/06 Skipper Jack, Kevin & Chris and passengers enjoyed a dozen or so whales (in 4 pods) on the morning cruise and in the afternoon the boat left a couple of lazy whales to head towards another two humpbacks and were well rewarded with some spectacular simultaneous breaches.

Sat 20/6 Skipper James, Julie and Shireace saw humpbacks on both cruises today. In the morning Moonshadow caught up with a couple of humpbacks off Boondelbah (one breaching) and in the afternoon they saw two large humpbacks north of Fingal, also showing off with a breach. Julie tells us one of them was quite white, but not the mysterious 'Migaloo'.

Fri 19/06/09 - Unfortunately due to unfavourable sea conditions we were unable to head out on our whale watch cruises today. Our fingers are crossed for better seas tomorrow!

Thurs 18/06/09 - Although the sea conditions were not the best, the results made it all worthwhile. On the morning cruise Captain Jack and Kevin managed to tracked down not one, not two but three pods of whales. The pods showed off each with their fair share of tail slapping. The afternoon passengers were even more spoilt witnessing a mother teaching her calf the art of breaching.

Wed 17/06/09 Unfortunately the weather has turned against us and there is no whale watching today.

Tues 16/06/09 Capt. James and Kevin saw 2 Humpbacks this morning and another 2 this afternoon with one breach. All around the Fingal area again.

Mon 15/6 - Captain Jack, Cath, Peter and Jackson sighted 5 humpbacks on the morning cruise, with some nice tail slapping action. In the afternoon, the crew and passengers caught up with 2 humpbacks - one even breaching.

Sun 14/6 Skipper James, Kevin & Shireace enjoyed a superb day of whale watching with near perfect conditions. On the morning cruise passengers saw 3 humpbacks spyhopping and in the afternoon, passengers were firstly enthralled by the common dolphins bowriding with a newborn on the bow of Moonshadow V before catching up with a couple of pods of humpbacks with one of them doing an incredible 'headstand' showing off a couple of metres of the tail out of the water for 5 or 6 seconds.

Sat 13/06/09 Skipper James, Lisa and Shireace had a few pods of humpbacks on the morning cruise. They followed 2 pods and saw some great tail slaps. In the afternoon the cruise met up with a very friendly humpback coming right up to the boat to check the passengers out.

Fri 12/06/09 - Skipper Jack and Cath caught up with a couple of very fast moving whales this morning off Fingal Lighthouse. The whales had slowed down by the afternoon cruise with a mother and calf humpback playing right near the boat. The mother was teaching her calf the art of breaching much to the delight of the passengers on board.

11/06/2009 Unfortunately conditions were not good offshore today and no whale watch cruises departed.

10/06/2009 The morning cruise went out but unfortunately did not see whales and with conditions offshore deteriorating, the afternoon cruise was cancelled.

Tues 9/06/09 Captain Chris and Julie spotted five whale today. Two off Fingal Lighthouse and then another three off Fingal Bay, with breaches again!

Mon 8/6 morning whale watch had the crew (Skipper Jack, Julie and Matt) and passengers mesmorised with a humpback swimming beneath the boat. It then surfaced and breached out of the water right behind the boat - We think he was trying to hitch a ride in the boom net! On the afternoon cruise we caught up with one of a few pods sighted travelling north. Skipper Jack decided to follow a pod of 4 humpbacks just north of Boondelbah Is and they enthralled passengers with pectoral slaps, tail slaps and rolling.

Sun 7/06/09 Captain Jack and Julie spotted 3 humpbacks between Fingal and Boat Harbour on the morning cruise and in the afternoon they caught up with 2 humpbacks with some breaches and tail slaps.

Sat 6/06/09 Captain Jack & Shireace spotted a breaching humpback off Boat Harbour on the morning cruise. In the afternoon passengers were thrilled to meet up with 2 humpbacks off Fingal and were entertained by lots of tail slaps very close to the boat.

Fri 5/6/09 - Captain Jack, Shireace and Matt enjoyed an easy whale spotting cruise with two humpbacks found at Fingal Island. One whale spy hopped, swam along the front of the boat and slapped around on the surface. Plenty more whales were spotted to the south during the morning, and it was no problem finding them in the afternoon. All reports are for a fantastic long weekend of whale watching.

Thur 4/06/09 - Cpt Jack & Cath had a great day out on the water with the morning bringing one very active breaching humpback whale, a minke whale and a huge pod of playful dolphins. The action was just as good in the afternooon with 2 breaching humpback whales and plenty of tail slapping.

Wed 3/06/09 Captain Michael & Kevin spotted three Humpbacks off Fingal Bay this morning and another two in the same area this afternoon.

Tues 1/06/09 - Captain Chris, Julie. 3 Humpbacks spotted and we were lucky enough to have two of them breaching in unison!

Sun 31/5/09 – Cpt. James, Shireace, Matt. AM 1+1 humpbacks at Fingal Id. Swimming close to boat, pair where head-slapping on the surface, possibly communicating to each other. PM 1+1+2 humpbacks at Fingal Id. First whale was lost; next two groups swam alongside boat, one whale splashing on surface

Sat 30/5/09 – Cpt. Chris, Julie, Matt. 2 Humpbacks at Fingal. PM 1 + 1 Humpbacks at Fingal

Wed 27/5/09 – Cpt. Mick, Cath, Kevin, Matt. WW launch 2 humpbacks north of Boat Harbour. PM 1 humpback at Rocky Point

Tue 26/5/09 – Cpt. James, Shireace, Matt. AM 1 humpback at Boulder Bay tail slap and rolling on surface. PM No Whales

Tue 19/5/09 – Cpt. Mick, Cath, Matt. AM no Cruz. PM No Whales

Mon 18/5/09 – Cpt. Chris, Cath. AM no Cruz. PM No Whales

Sun 17/5/09 – Cpt. Jack, Kevin, Matt. AM 2 humpbacks at Rocky. PM No Whales

Sat 16/5/09 – Cpt. James, Julie, Matt. AM No Whales. PM 2 Humpbacks breaching and tail slapping.

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