Unusual DB sightings

[nightstalker22]

I swear this is true. A couple years ago, my friend and I were drifting for flounder at the first drop off out of the fort. It was slack tide, and we were in 15 feet of water about 5-6 miles out. My pal said (real calmly)"there's a whale behind us". I turned my head (to tell him he was full of s#&t) just in time to see a black back about 4 ft wide gently roll and disappear under the water. It was about 30 feet behind us off the port side with a slight angle towards us so I gotta admit there were a few nervous moments there as we were in a 18 footer, and this whale was very big. I'd have a hard time guessing it's length as I only saw the back half and the tail as it went under..VERY big though. We got on the radio and rported the sighting and lets just say the responses we got back were less than supportive. We kept fishing while trying to see it again and it never showed back up.
I have wondered for some time what exactly it was we saw. Anyone have any guesses? I am also wondering what other unusual sightings people have seen in the Bay.

[on the hook]

I believe you'll see anything you can out there. Big water. Only question is 5-6 mi out @ 1st drop? tongue.gif

[Haase's Marina]

Over the summer we had numerous reports of people seeing dolphins right off East Point Light House. I have personaly seen them right up in the cove here, and on the other side of number one. Next I'll be looking for them right off our fuel dock ;)

[snichols]

There are dolphin in the bay every year, we see them in late summer almost within casting distance of the beach.

About 10 years ago, I was taking an early spring walk along the beach near Reed's Beach and found 1/3 of a dead whale. This thing was huge, it must have been hit in the shipping channel, chopped up by the prop and fed on by sharks, birds etc. and then floated to shore. It was relatively fresh because it didn't smell and when I poked at it, blood still oozed from the body. :eek:

[BLUEFINN]

My Most unusual DB siteing was not a Fish,About 25 yrs ago We were Shark fishing neer the anchorage and saw an incomeing Tanker with something hung on it's starboard anchor.

As the Tanker came closer we saw that the object was a 25'+ alumunum section of the main mast of a sail boat! The top of the mast was draped over the anchor flukes and the stem was dangling in the water.

I called the Coast Guard CM and relayed my observations and the name and regestry of the tanker,CG Phila came on and requested I repeat the info.

I never heard anymore or saw anything in the Paper about it! I often wondered if they knew that they hit a sail boat. After that I started keeping a camera on the boat!

[justadandy]

Whales do come into the bay, and especially like to visit the Fort area. smile.gif I believe it was three years ago that a good friend who captained a party boat out of the Fort saw one approximately 4 miles off the Fort turn buoy. The passengers verefied the info.

[justadandy]

Almost as strange sighting: I saw windmeup out on the bay fishing last summer. ON HIS OWN BOAT!! :eek: :D

[nightstalker22]

Originally posted by on the hook:
I believe you'll see anything you can out there. Big water. Only question is 5-6 mi out @ 1st drop? tongue.gif I swear...this is what suprised me the most. In the channel maybe...but this was in 15 ft of water.

[nightstalker22]

Originally posted by Haase's Marina:
Over the summer we had numerous reports of people seeing dolphins right off East Point Light House. I have personaly seen them right up in the cove here, and on the other side of number one. Next I'll be looking for them right off our fuel dock ;) I can back this one up too. Same year we saw the whale we were fishing near EP tower late in the day. We kept moving closer to the point as we were seeing signs of activity right off the point. We got in near the churned up water and hooked a couple small blues with Gotcha lures before we saw a dolphin poke his snout out of the water...we backed off after that and called it a day. The dolphin we saw wasn't any more than 15 feet away from the sod bank.

[WETDREAM]

I can believe the whale. Every once in a while you hear of a whale staying in a harbor somewhere and the media giving it a name. I remeber a moning where the fog was real thick and the bay as flat as glass. real quiet. we were fishing and not doing anything ....pretty much waiting for the fog to lift and a pod of porpoise showed up and played 10 ft from the boat for while. Really neat. jumping out of the water almost completly. some splashed water on the deck. Could have reached out and petted them but didn't. Seemed they were looking at us. We loved it. Of course you won't catch fish withthem around. They left as the fog lifted. I'll never forget it.

[nightstalker22]

Originally posted by WETDREAM:
... waiting for the fog to lift and a pod of porpoise showed up and played 10 ft from the boat for while. ... Of course you won't catch fish with them around. Ain't that the truth...don't know if the fish are in hiding or what, but when the porps are around....might as well call it a day!

[sparse grey]

I saw a large whale near Avalon shoal, we had a Beluga whale visit us every day for a week at Sea Isle Lump. Most unusual in the bay was a submarine heading up-river, making a lot of noise. Ron

[nightstalker22]

Hi Sparse Grey http://www.binaryrhyme.com/ubbicons/wavey.gif ,
My wife and I were happy to meet you and your wife and daughter at the fest. Hope I didn't seem antisocial. I'm kinda like Jimmy Page, much better in the studio than live..LOL. I met so many people there I started to get brain lock.
I love fishing the bay. Sometimes it's like a box of chocolates...ya never know what ya gonna git. About 10-12 years ago I was fishing in my friend Mugsy's 17 foot sea nymph and I hooked a Manta Ray...I think. It was about 4 feet across at the wingtips, white belly, black back covered with white spots. It had the big flapper things in front. It took almost a half hour to get it up with flounder tackle. So big we thought we ought to get a bigger boat. That was one of my first trips in the bay...I've been hooked ever since. Sometimes I think we take for granted how great a fishing ground it is.

[sparse grey]

A pleasure meeting you also. Didn't realize it was your post I was responding to. Us fly guys don't see to well & as for memory-I can't remember what I had for breakfast. BTW Grand-daughter---ouch. That means I'm sleeping with a Grandmother. ;) :D Stay well, & we will fish together this year. Ron

[windmeup]

Justadandy, I don't belive that one! You gota pitchure of that one? lols. A few years back, bessie the Manatee from Flordia that swam right past our boat as we're the dock potatoes then! She had the transponder attached and all. I called the Coast Guard and informed them that there was a search ongoing for Bessie (At the time, she was beleived to be on the ocean side and not the bay)and that they should inform all boaters to be on the alert! She was swimming on the out going tide in the creek!

[BIGGESTJACK]

windmeup+j-a-dandy--its hard to figure if you guys are budies who bust stones or don't go to dinner to often.i have been going nuts trying to figure you two out???perplexed,bothered and Bewildered.

[ 02-08-2004, 06:17 PM: Message edited by: BIGGESTJACK ]

[windmeup]

?

[windmeup]

OK! Dandy, go smack Jack's pp for leaving out the "b" in the last work of his sentence! I'm applaud that you did not extend professional courtesy by doing a grammer check? What's this world coming to?

[nightstalker22]

Originally posted by sparse grey:
A pleasure meeting you also. Didn't realize it was your post I was responding to. Us fly guys don't see to well & as for memory-I can't remember what I had for breakfast. BTW Grand-daughter---ouch. That means I'm sleeping with a Grandmother. ;) :D Stay well, & we will fish together this year. Ron Actually, I couldn't remember if she was your daughter or grand daughter, thought I'd go the more complimentary route ;) . I thought fly guys had to see to catch...another rumor undone...LOL. I've never fly fished and would love to give it a try one day...hope we can get together.

[sparse grey]

Usually fly at night. You would be welcome. Ron

[Captblock]

One of my most unusual sightings was a dead goat floating in the bay. PSE&G used them at one time to eat the phragmites.

[baranx3]

While not in the DB,the oddest thing I ever saw in the water was a killer whale. It happened about ten years back,I was fishing in the cook inlet in alaska and was fighting a nice King when the fight stopped and I was bringing up the head, I thought it was possibly a shark but my dad yelled to get the head out of the water and sure enough there was a pod of killers nearby with one trying to get the head. While I thought it was odd, but it is common up there, and they said it even happens when bringing up ling cod, yellows, and Halibut. When it happened, I for some reason immediately thought of the book the old man and the sea. I guess it was since I was just out of College back then.

[ 02-08-2004, 08:50 PM: Message edited by: baranx3 ]

[design]

I cropped the pic and blew it up a tad, so it might not 100% clear, but I circled the dolphin jumping.

http://images.snapfish.com/339964%3A323232%7Ffp54%3Dot%3E2329%3D6%3A%3A%3D47% 3C%3DXROQDF%3E23234%3A584487%3Aot1lsi

They were jumping like that all around us, even caught one doing a flip. Neet as all get out. Seen them 100's of times, but never as active as this.

Now, I believe this was the same day, we're heading back in, I notice something in the water that appeared to be a dolphin that got sliced open by a prop or what ever, but didn't notice any blood as it rolled around. This is what led me to believe it got hit.

Then thought, these things are too smart to get hit, plus the absense of blood and any noticable guts or the like. Think it might have been giving birth or just gave birth. Do they give birth in the bay???? sounds odd, but. Or maybe it was just rolling around like that and I really never could get a clear view of what I was seeing as she eventually swam off.

Plain and simply put, don't know what I saw :D

Seen a couple of rays (sure seems like it) from time to time going to town on bait fish on top of the water, gets my blood pumping thinking it's something else.

but have yet to see a whale and seeing a dead goat is hard to beat captblock :eek:

[ 02-10-2004, 08:40 AM: Message edited by: design ]

[nightstalker22]

Great post design. Nice pic too. I have always been fascinated with dolphins going way back to my Navy days. I remember we were cruising in the Med on a destroyer, we had another frigate off to starboard a little behind us the whole time we were running together there was a pod of dolphins swimming right in front of the frigate where the bow cuts the water. They were taking turns coming completely out of the water playing with the wake created by the bow...awesome sight. A truely remarkable animal and very intelligent too. Smarter than me...cause I can't figure out a way to fish all day every day like they do...LOL. ;)

[Bawugna]

I have seen tons of dolphins in the bay. Even had a few come right up to the boat roll a bit and look at me in the boat. Other times they are a bit less willing to get too close.

Design, Dolphins do move into the bay with young of the year! I am not sure that they are pupping in the bay, but I would not doubt it, heck many other large creatures do, sharks in particular. Once many years ago we saw a large group of adults and pups rolling in the middle bay. We tried our hardest to get photos, but they always kept a distance.....I even tried to get closer, my skiff is pretty fast, and they always seemed to be the same exact distance away.

The most amazing thing I ever saw however was a manta ray about 6 years ago. We were down in 60 foot slough at dusk, setting up to do you know what :rolleyes: , and this enormous ray, about 10 to 12 feet accross breached straight into the air about 20 feet from my boat :eek: He fell backwards and made a splash that sounded like a boat was dropped from a second story landing!! He simply disappeared into the setting sun and that was it.

Hmmmm, Once while preparing to leave the striper grounds between the Maul and the EP tower in slate flat water, we saw an entire school of bunker leave the water at once. The school was about the size of half a football field and made an incredibly loud noise. They all jumped skyward, damned near standing on thier tails.

[justadandy]

Originally posted by BIGGESTJACK:
windmeup+j-a-dandy--its hard to figure if you guys are budies who bust stones or don't go to dinner to often.i have been going nuts trying to figure you two out???perplexed,bothered and Bewildered. Sorry to be so slow in responding, BIGGEST, but I have been tied up with the Tunes thread in The Tackle Box. If you can't figure Windy and me out, what chance do we have with you, the "STAINS, Badfinger, Cherokee, etc?? :confused:

Windy and I have never been to dinner together 'cause he won't buy. One day we may even meet, BUT 99+% of what we say is in good fun. Don't you hate it when he corrects your speling; I see you went back and edited the post. :D I just wish he would give me one of those stock tips before the chart took Viagra.

Lets see- "perplexed, bothered and bewildered" -was that one of Perry Como's hits??

[BIGGESTJACK]

WIND-M-U--MUST HAVE BEEN A TEACHER.ITS BEEN 40 YEARS SINCE I SPELLED ANYTHING.PLUS WHEN I TYPE ON THIS CONTRAPTION MY MIND GETS AHEAD OF MY I FINGER.I THINK I HEAR PERRY SINGING

[BIGGESTJACK]

WHITE PAGES= D F P

[ 02-10-2004, 03:45 PM: Message edited by: BIGGESTJACK ]

[justadandy]

BIGGEST,
Windumup CAN, at least he says he CAN, so he doesn't teach. Except for anger management courses when sentenced to do community service.

Hold on!! I'm looking for Skeeter. :D

[windmeup]

Thanks Dandy for the vote of ? I do my teaching at home for private tutoring? Yes my kids will have more homework than sent home! As far as stock tips? your guess is good as mine. BUT, I'd look at AZN reporting "better than" numbers and maybe look at companies that are dealing with the issues of mad chickens! one of the top would've been EMBX but the Maryland scare washout jumped in. If in fact the overseas chicken growers must start using anyform of meds for their poultry, then EMBRX will command their price!

[Tuna2bite]

The sky got dark looked like a storm building.. Then a huge water spout came down from the sky.. Neat looking.. Then got the hell out of dodge seen lighting...

Later :eek:

[one eye willy]

A few years back we were out at 20ft slough and a pod of dolfs came past about three wide and about a half a mile long it took about 15 min. for them all to go by! Aso had a whale swim by while fishing the surf in Del. about 20 yards of the beach at the most I could have casted over its back with no problem! ;)

[Mike]

It's just a rumor, but I heard someone saw a weakfish last year!

[TaxMan]

This post brings back memories when I used to fish with my father in DB. We'd rent a 14 footer in the Villas at the Bayview Marina (?) and ride the rails down to the water with that 9.9hp monster on the back. We'd drift around for hours, loading up on the weekies, an occassional blue. He'd always tell me the story of "Old Moe" the giant turtle that lived in that part of the bay. Hi head was as big as a mans', and his shell was 10 feet accross. He'd swear he hooked him once and it pulled him through the bay for an hour. Well, I never believed him, until about four years ago, when he and I and now my two sons were fishing the same area, and this huge turtle appears within 2 feet of our boat. Not only did his head look like a man, we decided it actually looked like my dad. We laugh about it every trip now.

[nightstalker22]

Originally posted by Mike:
It's just a rumor, but I heard someone saw a weakfish last year! Ok...I can buy the whale, manta ray, dead goat, and the water spout...but now we are getting carried away...a weakfish???? ;) :D :D

[BIGGESTJACK]

Originally posted by Mike:
It's just a rumor, but I heard someone saw a weakfish last year! I STARTED THAT,AT DUSK I CAUGHT A CROAKER AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A WEAKIE THEN I WOKE UP AND REALIZED THEY DON'T EXIST ANYMORE.

[nightstalker22]

Originally posted by TaxMan:
This post brings back memories when I used to fish with my father.... Nice story taxman...thanx.

[fishpole5]

Going back to days when I ran out of the Fort, I was drifting between the Maul and Abandon Light House and saw two shadows circling the boat, I looked and they ducked, then they came out, 2 "MOON FISH", never saw one before or since, weard looking fish, real big eyes, pretty neat, that same day had a big Sand Tiger follow one of my flounder right to the boat, big boy too

[finaddict5]

My buddy and I were fishing near the Rips a few summers back when he swung a nice croaker over the side and into the boat. Unbeknownst to him, a HUGE Sand Tiger silently glided by just missing a croaker supper. :eek: The thing looked over 7' long. I just stood there in amazement as he never saw a thing. :confused: Glad I didn't try to lip that croaker! :D

[ 02-17-2004, 03:30 AM: Message edited by: finaddict5 ]

[CastawayRay]

I was on the ferry and we went thru a HUGE (miles long) school of jellyfish, and once thru, rammed a sand bar, quite a few people went over the chains and hit the deck, imagine if they fell in the water, with all those jellies, ewwwwwww, stung to death

[CJ]

Saw a whale at middle shoal a few years back in November, a nice dead buck float by last fall and had a big shark come right up to the canal jetty when I had dumped my bait and was about to climb down and wash my hands.

[CaptG]

I saw the Chumstain catch a striper while chunking bunker :D

[Silent A]

Couple years back we were drifting near Bug light and had a hook get caught. We finally broke loose and pulled a piece of bottom to the boat and besides the normal critters that came crawling out we spot a seahorse. I never thought seahorses were up this far north but after posting the story I heard they are seen quite often. We've also spotted seals off of East Point during some early season bassin from the shore.

[Esox1]

About 5 years ago I saw a sea otter playing around the docks in Sea Isle bay. Hard to believe but true.

[zoom]

i have seen otters around back more then once them bastages can and do steal minnies right out of the flowtroll !!ZOOM

[RottnCaptn]

Originally posted by CaptG:
I saw the Chumstain catch a striper while chunking bunker :D :D LOL :D

[THECHUMSTAIN]

Originally posted by CaptG:
I saw the Chumstain catch a striper while chunking bunker :D Must have been the day somebody took the boat without me knowing. :D

astrazenica and pfizar may be on the rise they are out getting new sales people right now for training, must have new drugs coming out soon and need more drug pushers on the street. ;)

[nightstalker22]

Originally posted by THECHUMSTAIN:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by CaptG:
I saw the Chumstain catch a striper while chunking bunker :D Must have been the day somebody took the boat without me knowing. :D

astrazenica and pfizar may be on the rise they are out getting new sales people right now for training, must have new drugs coming out soon and need more drug pushers on the street. ;) </font>[/QUOTE]So who do we call first....the doctor, or the broker...LOL. :D

[luv2fish]

This is a great topic and having spent many years fishing/crabbing the bay, I have see some really interesting and unusual events. Dolphins and whales are becoming more common but always a special event. Always a cool sight at sunset from the shore house but keep them away when striper fishin.
The monster rays that come into the bay to mate and feed bring back 2 memories. First watching them feed on bait fish by schooling them to the shore at EP tower. Second while striper fishin at Bug Lite, I hooked a monster striper, I thought, but after having a 15 ft trihull towed around the bay for an hour knew I could never get that ray any closer than 20' cause he hugged the bottom when he tired.
Once fluking the anchorage the family and I were greated by a 1.5 ft baby hammerhead that loved circling the boat just staying out of nets reach. I still enjoy coming in late at night in the fall and watch the phlorescent light show in the boat wash, of algea or some micro organism, hitting the boat and prop, looks like like little green balls of light. Not sure why this happens but looks really cool.
There always something to discover on the bay, just wish I was out there now.

[Offshore Custom Tackle]

15 years ago while fishing the lower bay, My father and I saw a Large Mako free jump 30 feet from our boat. Looked to be 250 to 300 lbs.

[faraway]

A couple years ago i was fishing at the 96th st bridge with my buddy (far26). We walked down to a little dock near the apartments there and started fishing. All of a sudden a sea otter popped onto the dock we were on and continued to come at us and i dont think he wanted to play. eventually he got scared enough and went back in the water but he came back 2 minutes later. Frank nudged him with his foot but he wouldnt leave. Finally we left him alone and 10 minutes later his girlfriend popped onto the dock with him. they started rolling around with each other. they looked like 2 ferrets! this was around 2am and i think it was early spring-it might have been fall though. I also saw dolphins come right under the free bridge into stone harbor at night.

[faraway]

sorry-didnt realize that this was DB only!

[BIGGESTJACK]

Originally posted by faraway:
sorry-didnt realize that this was DB only! NOTHING BETTER TO DO WE WOULD LISTEN.