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'Definitely rattling': Fishermen encounter humpback whales up close near Isles of Shoals

Two humpback whales breached and approached a fishing boat closely on Tuesday, roughly seven miles beyond the Isles of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire.
While fishing for haddock several miles beyond the Isles of Shoals, a captain and his first mate observed several whales gathering around their small 30-foot vessel, leading them to reel in their fishing lines and steer clear of the area.
The whales, each around 50 to 60 feet long and approximately three times the boat's size, breached on either side and one even swam underneath, a rare sight experts say is non-aggressive and lucky to witness.
Sprague described the experience as startling and surreal, noting “It definitely will rattle you,” while Hamilton admitted he got a little freaked out but affirmed they will continue fishing despite the close encounter.
This incident highlights the need for vigilance on the water as advised by Marine Mammal Conservation director Ashley Stokes, underscoring both the rarity of such whale activity and the potential risks to small vessels.

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‘It’s like Sea World’: Fishermen startled by breaching whales in NH - Boston News, Weather, Sports

A fishing boat captain recalled the heartstopping moment when two breaching whales splashed around just feet from his vessel in Rye, New Hampshire. Captain Dale Sprague captured the creatures jumping out of the water about 7 miles past the Isles of Shoals on video Tuesday. He said he was haddock fishing with his first mate Matt Hamilton when it happened. “I consider myself very lucky for what we went through. Some people who paid money on whale …

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