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Each summer, humpback and finback whales feed in the water off Montauk, close enough that a boat can carry you out and back in an afternoon. Each winter, harbor seals haul out on the sandbars and rocks along the shoreline, sometimes by the hundred. If you’re wondering where to find whales and seals, Montauk is a prime location.
Between the two, there is something to see out here most of the year. Whale season runs from late spring into early fall. Seal season picks up in November and holds through May, which makes it a good reason to plan a trip out here in the cold months.
You do not need experience, gear, or a boat of your own. Naturalists and marine biologists lead nearly every trip, and the options run from a ninety minute walk on the beach to a full day at sea.
Did You Know?
Humpback and finback whales feed in the waters off Montauk every summer, and the naturalists at CRESLI have been documenting them aboard the Viking Fleet for more than 30 seasons. Their scientists lead the trips themselves, so the narration comes from the people doing the research.
Choose Your Adventure
Whether you want a full day at sea or an easy walk on the beach, there is a way to see the East End’s marine life.
Whale Watching
Head offshore from Montauk between late spring and early fall to look for humpbacks, finbacks, and dolphins.
Seal Cruises
Ride into Shinnecock Bay with a marine biologist from November through May, when the seals move in for the winter.
Seal Walks
Walk the winter beach with a naturalist and watch seals haul out to rest. No boat required.
Whale Watching: Late Spring Through Early Fall
Whale watching here means heading out of Montauk Harbor and into open Atlantic water past the lighthouse. On a good day, the coast drops away fast and you’re left watching the water.
What You Might See
Humpbacks and finbacks are the main draw, though dolphins, sea turtles, ocean sunfish, and seabirds also show up. Sightings are never guaranteed, though the naturalists track the animals all season and know where to look, often following feeding patterns and prior sightings from earlier trips.
Where to Book
Montauk – CRESLI runs the whale watches in partnership with the Viking Fleet, departing Montauk Harbor. Local trips run about five to six hours, with a marine biologist narrating along the way. The group also runs a longer offshore expedition into deep water, roughly 36 hours, aimed at serious naturalists and birders who want extended time around whales, dolphins, and offshore seabirds. Other cruises and fishing boats out of Montauk occasionally spot whales and dolphins, but they are not dedicated whale-watch trips and typically do not have a naturalist on board.
Local Tip
It’s a long day on open water. Bring layers, sun protection, and something for seasickness if you are prone to it. Check the operator’s site for current departures, which shift with the season and the weather.
Seal Cruises: November Through May
When the whales move south, the seals move in. From late fall through spring, harbor seals gather in the shallow bays of the South Fork, hauling out on sandbars to rest between tides. Two nonprofit research groups run cruises to see them, both leaving from Southampton.
Where to Book
Southampton – CRESLI runs roughly two hour trips aboard the R/V Peconic, departing Stony Brook University’s Marine Science Center, with one of its scientists leading the way. Across 35 cruises the group has logged more than 3,300 harbor seals, an average near 96 per trip. Registration is required and space is limited.
Southampton – AMSEAS, the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, runs its own two hour cruise into Shinnecock Bay, using the same vessel and the same Stony Brook dock, led by its biologists. Space is limited and trips are popular, so check their site for current availability.
Local Tip
These are open weather boats running in winter, and the wind on the bay is far colder than the parking lot suggests. Wear more layers than you think you need, and confirm the trip is running before you drive out.
Seal Walks: November Through May
If a winter boat ride is more than you want, you can see the same animals on foot. Naturalist-led walks reach the beaches and points where seals come ashore to rest. Warm clothes and decent shoes are all you need.
Where to Go
Westhampton – CRESLI has led seal walks at Cupsogue Beach County Park for more than two decades. The route runs about 1.2 miles round trip and takes an hour to an hour and a half, gentle enough for children. Registration is required.
Montauk – A state park naturalist leads walks at Montauk Point out to a stretch of shoreline where as many as five seal species have been recorded. Plan on about two hours and roughly three miles.
Local Tip
Bring binoculars. Seals rest at a distance, and without them you are looking at gray specks. Walk dates are posted online and change from season to season.
Make a Day of It or an Overnight
These trips take most of a day once you have driven out, parked, and come back to shore. Staying the night is worth it, and in winter a room costs a fraction of what it does in July.
Montauk in Summer
A whale watch runs five to six hours, and you come back ashore with the day already behind you. After that long at sea, the drive home is the last thing anyone wants. Book a room in town, have dinner near the harbor, and give the next morning to the lighthouse or the beach.
Montauk in Winter
Start with a morning seal walk at the Point, warm up over lunch in town, then take the afternoon slowly. Montauk in winter is a different place, quiet and weather beaten and largely yours, with rooms at their lowest rates of the year.
Southampton
A seal cruise runs about two hours, which leaves the rest of the day for the village. Stay the night and you can add a walk on the ocean beaches, which are at their most dramatic in winter.
Westhampton
The Cupsogue walk takes roughly ninety minutes and pairs easily with lunch in the village. In summer the same beach is one of the East End’s better surf breaks, so it is worth coming back in the other season.
Make It an Overnight
There is a room within a few miles of every one of these trips. Explore where to stay across the East End →
Before You Go
- Check current schedules online before planning around a trip. Operating days vary by season and by year.
- Reserve ahead. Most of these trips fill up quickly.
- Dress in layers for every trip, including in summer. It is always colder on the water than on shore.
- Bring binoculars. Sightings are never guaranteed, though a naturalist on board improves the odds considerably.
See the East End’s Wild Side
Summer or winter, the trip comes down to the same thing: standing on a deck or a beach, watching water, waiting. The animals keep their own schedule. Give them time and they usually turn up.
Want to be out on a boat without running one yourself? Read Sail the East End for sunset cruises, day sails, and private charters from Greenport to Montauk.
