Humpback Whale Feeds Right Next To Man's Boat: Amazing Video

(Warning: the videos posted here contain profanity.)

MORICHES INLET, NY — A man out boating this weekend got the thrill of a lifetime when a humpback whale came out to feed right beside his boat.

"It was an awesome experience," said Michael Ziccardi.

Ziccardi said he came upon the magnificent creature on the east side of Moriches Inlet, while in the ocean and less than a half mile out — in 50-feet of water.

"I have seen whales before, as I fish far offshore," he said. "I thought I saw a blowhole in the distance so I told my boys Vincent and Dominic, 'Let's go check it out.'"

Next, he saw dolphin and the whale feeding on pods of bunker, Ziccardi said. "I think karma played a part in this encounter. A couple of hours earlier we were in the bay and a Mylar balloon landed in the water while we were driving. I looked at my youngest son Dom and told him, 'We are turning around to get that out of the water. Those balloons are fish and turtle killers.' It landed by other boats and no one else was doing anything. So we grabbed it out of the water."

His son Dom, Ziccardi said, "Dad, we're going to catch fish for sure now. We did a good deed."

(Photo courtesy Michael Ziccardi)