CHATHAM, Mass. — A Cape Cod fisherman and his family got an up-close encounter with a pod of humpback whales that they say they will never forget.
Viktor Tuleika was tuna fishing off Chatham on Wednesday with his family when they spotted a pod of humpback whales in the distance. Tuleika said they stopped about a quarter mile away from the animals and began setting up their fishing rods.
But the whales soon came much closer than expected.
Cell phone video recorded by Tuleika shows the whales surfacing near the boat as his family reacts in amazement.
“This is better than tuna. They’re kissing our boat, guys. There is another one. Oh my goodness. Holy macaroni,” Tuleika is heard saying during the encounter.
One of the whales then appeared to bump the boat, creating a dramatic moment that was captured on camera.
Tuleika said he only had seconds to react and described it as a ‘kiss.’
“I had a couple of seconds. I pulled the phone and I see this huge, amazing animal... heading towards the boat. I was actually trying to yell at him, like getaway. And he ended up pushing the boat or bumping into the boat. But he pushed the boat like a feather, you know.”
Despite spending years fishing in waters where whales are a common sight, Tuleika said nothing prepared him for an encounter like this.
“Can’t really describe it. Words can’t really describe it. You have to feel it.”
Tuleika was fishing with his family, including his 11-year-old son. He hopes it will be a memory they carry with them for the rest of their lives.
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