MIAMI – “A massive explosion of water,” that’s how a fisherman described video he shot of a humpback whale breaching the water off Key Biscayne earlier this week.
Ryan Preston was with a group of fishermen in 50 feet deep, “crystal-clear” water just south of the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse on Dec. 23 when he spotted the giant mammal. He shared the rare sighting on his Instagram account .
“We were suddenly stunned by an enormous splash that erupted from the depths,” he told CBS News Miami.
“We stared in awe as a baby humpback whale came out of the water, breaching several times. Then, as if showing off, the whale rolled onto its back and began slapping the water with its pectoral fins, almost as if it knew we had our phones ready to capture the moment. Within seconds, the whale breached right next to the boat—an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime encounter,” Preston added.
Humpback whale sightings near Miami
Humpback whales are typically not found close to Miami Beach on a regular basis, but they can be spotted in the waters off South Florida during their migration.