WATCH: Humpback Whales Breach Near Fishermen Off Coast of Portsmouth, NH

You don't always get to see something as amazing as two whales breaching off the coast of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Two Whales Make Themselves Known

Two whales, who didn't seem all that happy with nearby fishermen, breached the water near their boat, sending waves in their direction.

I'm not a marine biologist, though my son will be when he graduates from college. To me, these look like two humpback whales. To be fair, my son is only in the first month of his freshman year at UNE, so he may not be up to speed on which whale is which. I'll check in with him next time I see him to confirm.

Were These Whales Angry?

One of the fishermen certainly thought so, as one of them said the first whale to breach was "pissed off," just as the second whale breached, which he also said was pissed off.

The breaches each sent a decent-sized wave toward the fisherman, but not enough to be a problem. If the fisherman is right, this was their warning to them that they weren't welcome here.

READ MORE: Deer Stranded On Rocks Handle Ocean Waves in Maine With Ease

How Many Whales Are Off New England's Coast?

The exact number of whales off New England's coast varies, and I assume they aren't easy to count. According to the New England Aquarium, large groups of North Atlantic right whales have been seen, with over 75 spotted in January 2025 and May 2025 in different areas of the Gulf of Maine and Massachusetts shipping lanes, which makes them a large portion of the critically endangered population of right whales. Other whales, such as fin whales, sei whales, and humpback whales, are also found in New England waters.