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jsknox t1_j92rkx7 wrote

Incredible shot OP! Is that through a telescope?

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[deleted] t1_j93ogk3 wrote

TIL that there are seals in NJ

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StinkyCheeseMe t1_j93qs26 wrote

Yea- they love relaxing in the sun at low tide there.

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[deleted] t1_j93s06i wrote

Cool! I went to Sandy Hook for a field trip like 20 years ago and definitely didn’t see anything nearly so memorable. I’ve never ever seen them anywhere else along the shore either. Do they especially like Sandy Hook?

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stevozac OP t1_j93tubh wrote

Yea, every winter they show up in the bay. Best to see them at low tide. There were 11 of them on these rocks!

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Fantasy_DR111 t1_j93rtsb wrote

They can be found even just on the beaches sometimes like in Belmar, LBI, etc.

Many of the inlets and bays are places they can be easier to find. Down near AC and Brigantine, Barnegate, and of course the Sandy Hook bay.

They love to sun bath.

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[deleted] t1_j93t4cl wrote

I don’t know why I’m so surprised. I lived in NJ my whole life up until a few years ago and spent many summers on LBI, but never heard about any seals

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Fantasy_DR111 t1_j93vl3t wrote

The fisheries off the waters of NJ are pretty decent these days. Enough to sustain whales, seals, great whites, and dolphins. But who knows how long that will last TBH.

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sea-scum t1_j96bky8 wrote

it’s not just decent. NJ has some of the best fishing in the Atlantic.

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Fantasy_DR111 t1_j96u8up wrote

I say that because who knows what is going to happen with NJ. Global shipping is coming back, the port of NJ/NY is a huge oil hub, we are having an increase in cetaceans, which could be caused by a number of factors, and more.

Also I wouldn't put it past us having overfished it a bit consdiering people from Maine to Virginia have been fishin these waters for the past several hundre years.

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sea-scum t1_j96vb8c wrote

global shipping never went away Brother

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Fantasy_DR111 t1_j9729hc wrote

Well I would say it was slowed own for a while due to the pandemic in NA and then even more when global shipping was stalled by Chinese national policies that hurt production.

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sea-scum t1_j973fxw wrote

fake news. Ports couldn’t keep up with the volume of ships coming through.

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Fantasy_DR111 t1_j9766yn wrote

Yeah they could, but lower demand from pandemic and supply issues with China HAS resulted in less global shipping ove the past few years. You can call it fake but the rates of ships coming in and out and the delivery of goods are down.

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mac1175 t1_j93r86c wrote

I see them sometimes when I fish there.

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[deleted] t1_j93syoh wrote

Do they pop up anywhere else along the shore, or are they just particularly fond of Sandy Hook?

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beachmedic23 t1_j93y1by wrote

I'll see them on the docks in the Shark River

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mac1175 t1_j94bm0m wrote

Interesting. I have never seen them there but wouldn't be surprised.

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stevozac OP t1_j93tz9t wrote

Its the only place ive seen them along the shore

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mac1175 t1_j94bi0x wrote

Not sure but I see them popping their heads up about 30 ft from me as I fish sometimes. I usually leave when I see them or dolphins because the bait and my target fish might be scared off by them.

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therealteggy t1_j92v90o wrote

I guess this has the "seal" of approval.

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metsurf t1_j936546 wrote

The great whites should be not too far off the beach . Those beautiful seals are yummy fat balls to sharks.

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4runner01 t1_j93jtki wrote

Pretty sure the sharks migrate to water that’s near 70f or warmer. So by the time the water is that warm, the seals are long gone north.

I hope….

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metsurf t1_j94fzwu wrote

Ever been to the beach in Maine? Water is like 55 in mid summer and they are seeing increased shark activity as seal population increases

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earthly_wanderer t1_j93jh4n wrote

Do sharks make it into the bay or is that water too fresh?

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stevozac OP t1_j93owld wrote

Its brackish water. And yes, sharks make it in this water way. And sadly. I also saw 3 dead dolphins not far from these guys 2day. It will be in the news im sure.

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StinkyCheeseMe t1_j93qwn4 wrote

Any opinion on what caused their death?

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stevozac OP t1_j93tgxh wrote

No, just happened this AM. No word yet. If u google it there are a few news articles about it. Curious tht there hav been so many marine mammal deaths this winter.

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CaptainTurdfinger t1_j940ns9 wrote

Lots of beached whales on the news too. Seems like there's a new one every other day.

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Primary_Change6819 t1_j94fy0p wrote

Dead whales on the beach is different than beached whales. Beached whales strand themselves while alive... which may die eventually. Its grim. I know. Just clarifying.

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dsarma t1_j95ml47 wrote

They couldn’t afford health care either.

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metsurf t1_j94fuao wrote

Bull sharks for sure can. Not sure about white sharks .

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earthly_wanderer t1_j95maj3 wrote

Is it safe to kayak the bay in the summer?

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metsurf t1_j96ktc2 wrote

Shark attacks are super rare. Be careful and avoid areas with seals hanging out.

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PICHICONCACA t1_j94ep98 wrote

Okay, everyone leave them alone and pick up your trash!

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Phazyme t1_j93p2qk wrote

Please leave them alone. Beautiful.

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v0ideater t1_j951du6 wrote

Thank you for the photo while keeping your distance from these beautiful animals.

What we have here my fellow New Jerseyan's is a fucking Harbor Seal.

Some fun facts: 1.Evidence of their presence ... is consistent with both the fossil record as well as a few landmarks named for them during colonization: Robbin's Reef, off of Bayonne, New Jersey, gets its name from the Dutch word robben, meaning "seals". 2.Protected species in the sense it is illegal to hunt or harass them in the United States. 3. I think they are super cute.

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Far_Pen_7 t1_j961r0q wrote

They are beautiful! Protect them at all costs

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AprilLuddy t1_j94nkfx wrote

where in sandy hook is the best place to spot them?

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stevozac OP t1_j95m2a9 wrote

This is near the chapel, b4 the coast guard station

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asecuredlife t1_j94xubp wrote

hi friends. hi hi hi what are you doing huhuhuh

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PAXICHEN t1_j9579n1 wrote

Naked. As expected.

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ohitsmark t1_j968qov wrote

Lived in Highlands for a longgggg time and never seen any seals at Sandy Hook. That is cool!

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Jessiebelled t1_j97cpzo wrote

Amazing! When was this picture taken?

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stevozac OP t1_j97cygc wrote

Yesterday, around 1pm

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Jessiebelled t1_j97e3t6 wrote

My friend and I have been down there several times this winter trying to spot some. We were there yesterday afternoon and didn't see a single one!

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stevozac OP t1_j97ey47 wrote

Get there ar low tide and go to the rocks near the chapel. Tht pic i took? There were like 12 in tht spot.

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TheFuschiaIsNow t1_j9dj7r8 wrote

I went yesterday and I swear there were about 40 of them, crazy sight to see!

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