Seal watching

[jbwave69]

Anybody out there watcing the Seal surfing the OCMD 48th street break this a.m.?

[divinesurf]

i dont know about you but i have had back to back seal encounters in the water. these things look so fun but i dont trust them. the other day i was out and i wasnt paying attention, but my friend said he saw the seal jump up and dive right under my board. he started screaming at me so i took a wave in and as i looked back the seal was no more than 10 feet away from me. it kept coming closer and closer to shore to see us. but this happened two times haha. those things kinda sketch me out and we do know what seal attract. but yea no seal watching for me im just surfing with them

[capesurfer]

Last Monday I had a seal encounter on 46th street. Freaked me the hell out at first - a head just popped up and stared at me about 20 yards away. My first reaction was to get away when an unidentified thing makes an appearance, but then that faded as my mind made sense of what it was, though not before I thought it was a human in dive gear. Finally I realized it was a seal , allthose whiskers and what not. he was just chilling, staring with his big eyes at me. I caught a wave and came back out and he was 'gone'. Kinda made my day, it was neat.

[zach619]

I work in above "seal cove" in JL. Everytime I surf, I am surrounded by about 100 of them up here. No joke. They will bump you somtimes, come up and check you out. I have swam with these guys and surfed with them countless times over the years. NEVER, have I EVER had any "bad encounters" with them. They are always super chill. They are very playful and like to check you out. They will roll right up on you, pop their head out and give you the stink eye.... They look like Black Labs when they poke their heads out....

But again, the only time i've had one get mad at me was at Law St in PB, this seal was eating a giant fish right in the impact zone, so I kept taking off and he would duck under with the fish in his mouth, then pop back back up a few seconds later... So this happened like 3 times in 5 minutes, finally, I was heading right towards him again and he looked at be and let out a loud as$ scream. Like a deep, retarded sounding noise, so I got a little spooked and popped out of the way. Then he just swam away, but again, I was interrupting his meal, over and over and over. Finally, the dude was like "WAHAHAHAHAHA", like telling me to let him eat. It was funny. Some inter-species communication. He was just trying to gobble down his fish and I kept blowing it for him

But anyway, unless atlantic seals are crazy or something, they are sooo harmless! They are funny as hel1 too! I go watch them on my break, barking at each other. sleeping all over each other like a bunch of bums. they are seriously cool creatures.

[Broseph Radley]

This past Wednesday, there was a seal in the line up sitting there staring at me from about 15 feet away in Spring Lake. Anybody else see him?

[GoodVibes]

This past Wednesday, there was a seal in the line up sitting there staring at me from about 15 feet away in Spring Lake. Anybody else see him?

This past Wednesday I was surfing Avon and about 20 feet away one popped up and just kept starring at me.The way the thing was looking at me was almost human like .You could tell the thing was highly intelligent.After it went under I paddled over to where it was trying to find it.My one buddy told me they can be quite agressive so maybe that wasnt the smartest thing to do on my part but the thing was very cool.

[mexsurfer]

a couple weeks ago i was surfing and i popped up after a close out... and there was a fricken seal 3 feet away from my face.... I almost **** my wetsuit until i realized what it was and it went back under... I think i hit it to, cuz when i took off on a wave i heard my fin thump against something... it looked my dog:p without ears:confused:
haha this is my 300th post :D :D :D

[myxamatosis]

There was a seal in Loch Arbour yesterday afternoon. He just checked us out for a minute or two and then bailed.

[Swellinfo]

I've only seen seals in SoCal in the water... I've heard of seals in the Mid Atlantic, but I didn't think it was too common? Seems like all of a sudden they are popping up everywhere?

[divinesurf]

yeah when i was out i saw them at bradley beach and lavalette. i usually surf loch arbour and its surprising to know they were around there. but good to keep in mind it was just weird cuz i was either by myself or with just one other person the two times i saw them

[no6rider89]

i wouldnt be to worried about them harming us while we are out. though if i see a whole bunch of them in the water then they disappear that is when i get nervous......

[divinesurf]

oh yeah and my buddy who surfs up in long island told me some lady got mauled by a seal so it was a little bit uneasy at first haha

[divinesurf]

i wouldnt be to worried about them harming us while we are out. though if i see a whole bunch of them in the water then they disappear that is when i get nervous......

thats true too. but its a little less sketchy when there are more people out with you. and if i was to get encounter a shark i would rather it in warm water than cold if that makes any sense haha. but nonetheless i am not afraid of the sharks nor do i think about them when i surf its just encounters like that remind you of those other fish that think were seals haha

[frylock89]

Once i was paddling back across the channel with some friends from the wedge in december and managed to get pick up by a friendly boater. they had been out fishing and were telling us to watch out for sharks cause there had been alot of seals around, but i figure they were just trying to freak us out cause they were surfers, prob trying to keep the spot to themselves...not rele worried about shark, a lil in cold water cause then its Jaws, its whatever, if its ur time its ur time.

[Surferdann]

They come every year and spend the winter in the back bays of certain parts of Jersey. Typically they are Harbor Seals. Years ago I took a class at Stockton (when it was Stockton State College) where we monitored their behavior in Great Bay. They are absolutely beautiful...and large in the water as well as friendly.

[stoneybaloney]

They look like Black Labs when they poke their heads out....


That's what I always thought. I have always considered them "sea dogs". That's why it kind of sucks seeing the great white rip their heads off. :(

[stoneybaloney]

I've only seen seals in SoCal in the water... I've heard of seals in the Mid Atlantic, but I didn't think it was too common? Seems like all of a sudden they are popping up everywhere?

Because of education/conservation, the Gray seal population is expanding in the Atlantic. Out of all the spottings mentioned, I'd bet the majority were Grays.

[CSB]

There was a seal chillin on the beach in VB this weekend, but just one. I've been surfing here for 14 years, and it's first time I've seen one. Since it was alone, I approached it to see if it was injured. When I got close, it barked and me and hauled a$$ into the water. I guess it was ok.
It was the coolest animal encounter I've had on the East Coast. Sea otters out west are cool as hell too...

[CleanandGreen]

Had one in AC Saturday check us out, and kept feeling swirls of water under my feet. The water got very clear Sat. with the NE winds, so it was probally just chillen under us checkin us out.
O yea, what eats seals? JAWS.
Good thing we are flopping around in black rubber suits causing distress!;:D

[LBNJ Local]

I was checking the surf on Saturday in LB and there were a bunch of people crowed around the boardwalk checking something out at Pav Ave. Naturally, I had to see what the hell was going on so I parked and walked down the beach where I found a bunch of fireman blocking off the jetty where a big a$$ seal was sunbathing. The fireman were def making a big deal about it, wouldn't even let me snap a pic with my phone. I understand they're protecting the people and the seal, but give me a break guys.... just like cops, give someone a little authority and they try and take it a long way. Anyway, I got a little agro with the young fireman and told them I was going to run up and put my wetsuit on to have a swim with the seal and they really took me seriously. The said "don't make us radio the cops down here." HAHAHA CLOWNS!

[stoneybaloney]

I was checking the surf on Saturday in LB and there were a bunch of people crowed around the boardwalk checking something out at Pav Ave. Naturally, I had to see what the hell was going on so I parked and walked down the beach where I found a bunch of fireman blocking off the jetty where a big a$$ seal was sunbathing. The fireman were def making a big deal about it, wouldn't even let me snap a pic with my phone. I understand they're protecting the people and the seal, but give me a break guys.... just like cops, give someone a little authority and they try and take it a long way. Anyway, I got a little agro with the young fireman and told them I was going to run up and put my wetsuit on to have a swim with the seal and they really took me seriously. The said "don't make us radio the cops down here." HAHAHA CLOWNS!

Shouldn't they be putting out fires? Unless there is a bonfire or something, what do they have to do with the beach?

[LBNJ Local]

Just like the cops busting on kids for stupid sh@t or us for surfing hurricane Bill.... haha

They're all on a power trip. Slap a piece of tin on their chest and they can do pretty much whatever they want. Fireman aren't as bad as cops; they just like to drink beer and hang out at the firehouse, that's why I couldn't understand them being such pricks. It was very humorous though, they made a human chain all linked up around the jetty to stop people from getting too close. I prob should have snapped a pic of them, but I was too busy laughing in their face.

[stoneybaloney]

Just like the cops busting on kids for stupid sh@t or us for surfing hurricane Bill.... haha

They're all on a power trip. Slap a piece of tin on their chest and they can do pretty much whatever they want. Fireman aren't as bad as cops; they just like to drink beer and hang out at the firehouse, that's why I couldn't understand them being such pricks. It was very humorous though, they made a human chain all linked up around the jetty to stop people from getting too close. I prob should have snapped a pic of them, but I was too busy laughing in their face.

But seriously, why were they in charge of the "event"? I thought they respond to fires and human emergencies. What do they have to do with marine life?

[LBNJ Local]

Honestly, I have no idea. Seal are known to be agressive in some cases and people are known to be idiots. So, they were probably just trying to avoid any issues with the seal being there. You could have the jackass Benny from Pier Village go up and try and pet the seal, which would obviously not end well. Bottomline, they're probably just bored out of their minds on a Saturday afternoon.

It was funny that there were 2 firetrucks in the road, an emergency response truck on the beach, and a bunch of fireman making their human chain. The seal didn't give a sh@t, just trying to get some sun...

[stoneybaloney]

Honestly, I have no idea. Seal are known to be agressive in some cases and people are known to be idiots. So, they were probably just trying to avoid any issues with the seal being there. You could have the jackass Benny from Pier Village go up and try and pet the seal, which would obviously not end well. Bottomline, they're probably just bored out of their minds on a Saturday afternoon.

It was funny that there were 2 firetrucks in the road, an emergency response truck on the beach, and a bunch of fireman making their human chain. The seal didn't give a sh@t, just trying to get some sun...

That's pretty ridiculous. I haven't seen any bennies in LB lately. Do you usually get them in the off-season? I had breakfast at Pier Village yesterday (Turning Point) and it was awesome. Then I had lunch at Sierra Taqueria which was also awesome. The only non-NJ plate I saw was Florida that whole time. Much nicer than the summer.

[LBNJ Local]

Pier Village is a Benny magnet no matter what time of year. Of course, summer is swarmed with the clueless, arogant, a$$holes but even in the winter on the nicer days. We even have what I call "local bennys," which are the idiots that have a summer house in deal or avon and try to localize themselves; NOT HAPPENING! My buddies and I were getting out of the water somewhere in LB last Monday and actually saw a group of kids playing in the water with just shorts on.... I have no idea what these kids were thinking, but it wasn't like they had their feet in, they were all the way in the water! This is the type of sh@t I'm talkin about when I say "local benny." You're just asking for hypothermia, frost bite, getting sick, or just plain drown...

[stoneybaloney]

My buddies and I were getting out of the water somewhere in LB last Monday and actually saw a group of kids playing in the water with just shorts on.... I have no idea what these kids were thinking, but it wasn't like they had their feet in, they were all the way in the water! This is the type of sh@t I'm talkin about when I say "local benny." You're just asking for hypothermia, frost bite, getting sick, or just plain drown...

That's just dumb no matter where you're from.

[OBlove]

there is a fatty named bob who hangs out at southside. i thought they were harmless but this fatty tryed to attack my brother after he smacked him on the back. this fatty chased him for about 15 yards before almost having a heart attack. he has been there for 5 weeks off an on. i heard he heads over to north side also. there is a bunch of them in the assawoman bay. they chill on the sandbars and they are seen every winter there that I have been around. I yaked out there not long ago from my house and sure enough, they swam right up to my boat and checked me out and then swam with me for quite a bit. they are around. u can see them and the fenwick state park-bayside quite frequently.

[stoneybaloney]

there is a fatty named bob who hangs out at southside.

Haha, fatty Bob. :D

[dave]

Seals may look like Black Labs but they are wild animals and will not hesitate to chomp on you if you **** with it - and lets be honest, can the average NJ citizen who be trusted to use good judgement and leave it be? Yeah I thought so.

And its not just the gaping wound that its teeth (which are biologically evolved to crush clam and crab shells open) will tear into your flesh, its the E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, Leptospirosis and Giardia that they carry and will infect you with - also a mycoplasma found in seals can cause “seal finger” in humans. This "painful and potentially serious disease can result from a seal bite or the infection of a pre-existing wound."

Then you have Seal pox a "disease of stranded seals and can be encountered in rehabilitation centers. It can cause pox sores in humans that may persist for up to a year. There is no known effective treatment."

[LBNJ Local]

Wow Dave, I'm honestly impressed! You know alot about seals; have you ever been bitten by one??? Hope noT! You're right, the average NJ citizen would prob try and pet a seal, there are some dumb a$$ people out there (not just in NJ). Thanks for the education on seal bites!

[stoneybaloney]

Seals may look like Black Labs but they are wild animals and will not hesitate to chomp on you if you **** with it - and lets be honest, can the average NJ citizen who be trusted to use good judgement and leave it be? Yeah I thought so.

Anyone who messes with a wild animal deserves what they get. They shouldn't need a human ring of firemen to save them from their own stupidity. Live & let live!

[zach619]

yeah, but after hundreds of encouters with these guys. Ive never been bit. They are completely non-aggressive towards humans. I have NEVER heard of a seal/human encounter in my almost 10 years in SD, the captial of seals in the country. There are more seals in the lineups each day than surfers, and i have never seen or heard of anything that you guys are talking about.... No bites. No attacks. nothing. Not divers, not swimmers, not surfers... So I stick to, yes they look like labs, they act like labs and they are completely harmless. Yes, if you touch on or try and ride one, it will bite you, but honestly, a human could never even catch one. They are so fast. Ive tried to reach out and touch them and they are too agile in the water....

If anyone has any nasty seal stories, im listening.

[surfina]

seal in long branch (see attachment)

[Aguaholic]

Seals on the west are not usually aggressive. Sea lions are though. And for some reason even though seals aren't aggressive on the west they seem to be more in the east. If you see a seal in the water here. No worries. If you see a pack of seals...well that can be a different story all together. They def can be unfriendly.

But i can say I never had a bad interaction with seals.

[stoneybaloney]

seal in long branch (see attachment)

Gray Lab! :D

[LBNJ Local]

Surfina,

Is that pic from the seal in LB? Sure looks like the one I saw.... But it could be that they all look alike... HAHAHA

[iceybeatzjosh]

they swim around me while i'm surfing, I get scared.. I swear they r gonna bite me one day

[surfina]

yep, long branch. Charlie Unger took it. There are more pics of him in the local swell forum. Such a cutie!

[LBNJ Local]

yep, long branch. Charlie Unger took it. There are more pics of him in the local swell forum. Such a cutie!

This maybe a stupid question.... Which local swell forum and how do I get there?

[stoneybaloney]

This maybe a stupid question.... Which local swell forum and how do I get there?

Bam!

http://localswell.freeforums.org/look-who-s-surfing-spot-x-saturday-afternoon-1-23-10-t2307.html

[LBNJ Local]

Thanks Stoney! I actually just found it all by myself (very proud of myself) and signed up. That guy got some great shots of the seal.

[stoneybaloney]

Thanks Stoney! I actually just found it all by myself (very proud of myself) and signed up. That guy got some great shots of the seal.

No problem. Those shots are awesome!

[Fiforlife]

Just cruising the news on the web. Thought this pertained to this thread quite well... There was a seal chilling on the beach today in Fenwick. Kinda bummed I never got down there today to check him out...
http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20100125/DW01/100125045/1002/rss

[barrels4liam]

I don't like reading about the men in grey suits in Monmouth County. This happened at 7 presidents park in Long Branch.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic/article_cfa5a260-025e-11df-8fdf-001cc4c002e0.html

[Recycled Surfer]

I never had a bad encounter with seals. I did have a rather large black tip swim about a foot under my board this summer. The water was really warm and crystal clear. I paddled about 20 yards down like that would do anything.

[Zippy]

A couple of seals are always hanging around OC Inlet, at least that's where I always see them this time of year.

[Bad Bug Surfing]

I'd be more afraid of dolphins then seals... But I'm the kind of person that sees a shark at NS and doesn't get out of the water. (it was only about 3ft, and more interested in food then us). Love the seals, kinda like little humans.

[LOSTsoul]

Surfed with one today. Popped up..did his thing swam around and stuff!...then he went fishing at the jetty, diving through the whitewater..probably looking for clams and muscles.
He basically hung around for like 10 minutes right next to us. Pretty sweet!

[SurfHunter82]

Yeah seeing a lot more around as of late. Surfed northern ocean county this a.m. and had one around us for quite some time. Surfed Sea Girt when the tide filled in and saw another one. could have been the same on as earlier, likely it was not. All and all pretty cool to see two in one day. Considering that i haven't seen one all winter in the past three years.

[wavejunkie]

saw one at jenks today along with many fun hollow lefts with nice long wedgeycloseout barrels i was recklessy throwing myself into. sometimes you just gotta put your shortboard away and grab the boog and enjoy the view

[GoodVibes]

Saw 2 more seals today unless it was very quick.Cool little creatures.....

[SurfHunter82]

saw one at jenks today along with many fun hollow lefts with nice long wedgeycloseout barrels i was recklessy throwing myself into. sometimes you just gotta put your shortboard away and grab the boog and enjoy the view

Haha surfed with you for a bit a jenks. That seal made my day, saw another in sea girt in the afternoon.