August 23, 2026

The high winds kept us on land on Saturday. On Sunday morning, we spent time watching six humpback whales, all in pairs. We also saw an ocean sunfish and a quick look at a blue shark. Our humpback whales included Quote, Reaper, Crinkle, Pitcher, Owl, and Chromosome. 

Pair of humpback whales

Humpback whale

Diving humpback whale

Ocean sunfish

In the afternoon, we got a chance to spend time with another new visitor to the Jeffreys Ledge region. Great to see you, Victim! We also got a few bonus looks at a pod of harbor porpoises on our travels home.

Victim (above and below)

Grey seal seen during our travels home

Harbor porpoise just outside Rye Harbor

August 20-21, 2026

 We started off Thursday morning with sunny and calm conditions as we made our way offshore. We headed to an area where we had found luck with whales very consistently over the last few weeks. Once there, we were able to get a quick look at a minke whale, before heading over to a humpback whale we spotted nearby.

Minke whale

Our humpback whale was revealed to be Satula! This whale spent much of their time circling around the area, likely foraging on small schooling fish underneath the surface.

Satula diving away

Diving towards us

We said goodbye to Satula as we began to search for more marine life. Shortly after started our travels, we got looks at an ocean sunfish.

Ocean sunfish

We saw a LOT of ocean sunfish throughout our travels this trip, even getting the chance to see one jump clear out of the water. Eventually, it was time to head back in towards Rye.

Thursday afternoon began with a course change. We headed in a southerly direction after leaving the harbor, headed towards distant reports of whales. On our way down south, we were extremely fortunate to come across a rare sighting of common dolphins (yes, I see the irony in that statement)! This was our first time encountering this species of dolphin this season.

Common dolphin!!!

Pair of dolphins

This particular pod was on the smaller side, with only around 8 or so individuals in the area. These dolphins spent much of their time riding just underneath our bow, such a fun way to start our afternoon! As much as we wanted to stay with these dolphins, we pulled ourselves away to continue our search for other, larger whales. After a while longer of travelling, we came into an area with with a whole lot going on. We started with a trio of humpbacks, which quickly became a group of five, consisting of Fan, Quill, Cacophony, Spika, and Alligator. 

Four of five humpbacks (one is subsurface)

The longer we sat there, the more apparent it became just how many whales were in the area. Out in the distance we could see other single humpbacks as well as pairs and a trio. Other humpback whales close to us included Valley, Jawa, Patches, and Dross. While spending time with Valley and Jawa, much excitement rang out from our boat as a distant trio of humpbacks displayed a triple breach out behind us! we slowly began to work our way in that direction, as one of the whales continued breaching.

Humpback breaching (and one diving)

This trio of whales consisted of Spoon, Chromosome and Quote. Spoon was active at the surface for almost the entire time we spent with them as she tail lobbed, breached, and flipper slapped repeatedly. Quote and Chromosome also spent much of the time flipper slapping.

Trio of whales, flipper slapping

Our time with these whales flew by, and before we knew it, we had to start heading home. As we slowly worked our way out of the area, we were also able to identify two other distant humpbacks, Draco and Gunslinger, before making our journey back home.

Friday morning was a wee bit more rocky and rolly than originally forecasted to be. While unable to press offshore in our efforts, we searched nearshore areas towards Cape Ann. We were able to get great looks at an ocean sunfish, something we usually need much nicer conditions just to be able to spot!

Ocean sunfish

While watching this sunfish, we received reports of whale activity from our friends at Newburyport Whale Watch! We travelled just a little further south and were able to spend the rest of our time with a very surface active humpback whale!

Breaching humpback!

It was incredible watching this whale jump out of the water again and again. After getting some truly amazing looks, the wind and waves were showing no signs of letting up, so we began our journey back towards home. With conditions being rougher than forecasted, the decision was made to cancel our afternoon trip.

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

 What an amazing day of whale watching!

This morning, we had to contend with a bit of fog, which always makes finding whales a little tricky (or should I say we are lucky if we find one!). We had just enough visibility to spot a couple of ocean sunfish and a minke whale before we saw a humpback whale jump out of the water in the near distance! It only happened once, but it was pretty spectacular!

When we got closer to the area of the breaching humpback, we saw multiple humpbacks spread out. The breacher was identified as Zodiac, a whale with an almost all-black tail.

Soon, we found Satula who surfaced so closely that we could hear the powerful inhalation just after the loud exhalation!

The other humpback in the area was a new whale for the Granite State- Warrior! This whale had been seen by a southern Maine whale-watching company (which, sadly, is no longer in business) in the late 1990’s but had never been documented by any of Blue Ocean Society’s affiliated boats. Super cool!

A couple of minke whales were darting around, and a few other ocean sunfish were enjoying the calm seas.

Our ride home was perhaps the most exciting part of the trip (at least for the crew). We found not one, but two sea turtles!! And, they were different species!! The first was a loggerhead sea turtle- our first of the season, and the first in at least two years!!!

The second was a leatherback sea turtle, the largest of all the sea turtles! We have been seeing a few leatherback sea turtles over the past few weeks, and this one appeared to be a new individual!

 

The afternoon trip also started off with an ocean sunfish! As we were watching it, we saw a blow nearby. We headed there and found a humpback whale known as Patches! Patches is the whale featured on the brochure of Granite State Whale Watch! We don’t see him all that often, but we are always excited when we do!

A minke whale was in the neighborhood before spotting Satula again today! Satula was moving around quite a bit, covering lots of territory.

Another humpback whale surfaced, coming up vertically through a bubble cloud! Warrior was still in the area, and doing some surface feeding- beautiful!

As we waited for Warrior to return to the surface, we were surprised by Patches surfacing right behind the boat! Again, the whales are moving around a lot these days, so even though we left Patches a mile or two away, he decided to come check out what Warrior was up to!

Satula was seen in the distance a couple of times, and then it was time to head home. But just before we left the area, another blow was seen- another humpback whale! And this one was Kickoff, who is a whale rarely seen in our area!

Fabulous day for whale watching!

August 18, 2026

The wind kept us on land on Monday, and on Tuesday morning, some thick fog was waiting for us to start the day. As we ventured offshore, the fog thinned out, and there was plenty of life to see. During our trip, we saw two ocean sunfish, five humpback whales, a minke whale, and a nursery pod of approximately 75 Atlantic white-sided dolphins.

Ocean sunfish

Minke whale

Diving humpback whale

Humpback whales included Patches, Satula, Alligator, Zodiac, and Clamp. Though perhaps the sighting that produced the most smiles was from our pod of dolphins. There were so many calves! 😊 

Atlantic white-sided dolphins

Can you find the baby dolphin face??? 😍

On Tuesday afternoon, we checked out four humpback whales (Satula, Alligator, Clamp, and Zodiac), a minke whale, a few grey seals, and a small pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins, all in proximity to each other. Marine life was popping up around the boat! 

Such calm seas!

Dolphins swimming by

We wrapped up the day by checking out one of the few ocean sunfish we spotted along the way.

Ocean sunfish

Augst 15-16, 2026

Watching whales is mesmerizing, awe-inspiring, and unlike any other moment. We love sharing these experiences with all of you. On both trips on Saturday, we started with an ocean sunfish. These fish are so intriguing to see. 

Morning ocean sunfish

On Saturday morning, we got a chance to spend time with five humpback whales, had a minke whale in the area, and saw a few more ocean sunfish as we traveled along. The morning's whales included Owl, Quote, Orion, Satula, and Fan. 

Owl

Such a high-fluking dive!

After our ocean sunfish sightings on Saturday afternoon, we came across 10 humpback whales. 

Afternoon ocean sunfish

We found ourselves, at one point, with spouts in multiple directions as whales circled; such beauty in the surrounding wildlife. Individuals included Patches, Owl, Stance, Satula, Spika, Zodiac, Alligator, Fan, Quote, and Orion.

Patches, the same whale on the front cover of the Granite State brochure. We love this whale!

It's so fascinating to see the associations that are formed between some of these whales from one day to another. Sometimes shifting as we are present! 

Pair of humpback whales

Stunning sightings continued on Sunday. The morning trip consisted of multiple ocean sunfish, eight humpback whales, and a couple of small pods of Atlantic white-sided dolphins. 

Ocean sunfish

The dolphins were associated with different pairs of humpback whales, and we even spent time with a trio of humpback whales. Individuals included Patches, Fan, Spika, Owl, Stance, Alligator, Quote, and Orion. 

Atlantic white-sided dolphins

Pair of humpback whales

On Sunday afternoon, we spent time with six humpback whales, with more spouts in the distance than we had time to check out. For a few surfacings, we had whales feeding on both sides of the boat, creating bubble clouds and doing tight circles. 

Lunge-feeding whales

Bubble cloud as Owl moves through the water

We also watched an ocean sunfish swim by as whales surfaced nearby. Whales included Patches, Owl, Stance, Alligator, Satula, and Orion.