Photo by marine mammal stranding center
Photo by Marine Mammal Stranding Center

Local fisherman helps whale stuck on Jersey Shore bay sandbar

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – A Minke whale got itself stuck on a sandbar in the back bay near Brigantine on Halloween, and a fisherman stayed with it until the tide came back in to set it free. He also brought a volunteer from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center out to the site to assist.

“While out on his skiff starting his workday, local bayman Eric Tucker discovered the 22-foot whale stranded on a sandbar and immediately reported it,” the Marine Mammal Stranding Center reported today. “Without hesitation, he volunteered his time throughout the rest of the day, using his vessel to transport our stranding technician and veterinarian to the whale’s location and staying on scene to assist. Fortunately, the whale refloated on the incoming tide.”

The group stayed with the whale to keep an eye on its health before it was able to swim out to deeper waters near the inlet.

According to the MMSC, the Minke whale is the smallest baleen whale in North American waters. They have a relatively small, dark, sleek body with a well-defined white band located in the middle of their dark flippers. This species can reach lengths of up to about 35 feet and weigh up to 20,000 pounds. The MMSC has responded to 32 stranded Minke whales since 1978.

Now that’s one heck of a ‘fish tale’ if you ask us.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.