Humpback Whale Collides With Fishing Boat Off Long Island

A fisherman off the coast of Long Island had a startling encounter when a massive humpback whale breached the water and slammed into his fishing boat, causing significant damage.

The incident occurred near Moriches Inlet on the East End of Long Island. Steven Heid, the fisherman, was out with his father-in-law and nephew when they noticed the whale several hundred yards away. As the whale approached their vessel, Heid shut off the engine to prevent harming the animal.

Heid's nephew began recording as the whale swam closer. In the video, the humpback whale is seen leaping out of the water and colliding with the boat, breaking open the hatch. "I thought we might be going down, but the boat was OK, the whale was OK. It was just crazy," Heid told News 12.

This event highlights a recent increase in marine mammal sightings in Long Island's waters. Experts have noted a comeback for whales and sharks in the area after decades of them frequenting other regions. Carl LoBue, Oceans and Fisheries Director for The Nature Conservancy in New York, previously stated that whale sightings, once rare, are now common, with multiple whale watching boats spotting them daily, and many visible from the shore.

In recent months, Long Island's waters have also seen the presence of large sharks, including a 12-foot great white shark tracked off the East End in late June.