Right Whale Season on the First Coast: What to Know This Winter

It is a cold, bright morning in January on the beach in Ponte Vedra. The wind is out of the northwest, the water is flat and steel blue, and a small cluster of people near the dune walkover are pointing at the same spot past the sandbar. A dark shape rolls at the surface. A moment later, a smaller one rolls beside it. Somebody whispers, "That is a mother and a calf."

If you live on the First Coast long enough, you will hear a story like that, and if you are lucky, you will be in one. Mid-November marks the start of right whale calving season off Northeast Florida.

Why right whales come here every winter

North Atlantic right whales spend much of the year feeding in the cold waters off New England and Canada. Each winter, some of the pregnant females travel south to the warm, shallow coastal waters of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida's east coast. According to NOAA Fisheries, this stretch of coast is the only known place where the species gives birth.

That makes the ocean you can see from Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach and St. Augustine Beach a nursery for one of the rarest large whales on earth. The most recent population estimate, released in October 2025 by the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, put the species at about 384 animals at the end of 2024. Every calf matters.

When and where you might see one

NOAA describes the calving season as running from mid-November through mid-April. Sightings off Northeast Florida tend to cluster in the cooler months, and the whales sometimes travel surprisingly close to shore, which is why people walking the beach occasionally spot them without binoculars.

There is no guaranteed viewing spot, and nobody can promise you a sighting. Your best odds come from simply spending time looking at the ocean on calm days with good light. A few good places to settle in on the First Coast:

• A dune walkover in Ponte Vedra Beach or South Ponte Vedra, early in the morning before the wind picks up.
• The piers at Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine Beach, which give you a little height above the water.
• The beaches on the north and south ends of Amelia Island, where the coastline faces open ocean.

Bring binoculars, a jacket and patience. A flat sea makes a dark back or a splash much easier to pick out.

How to tell a right whale from a dolphin

Most of what you see rolling off our beaches is bottlenose dolphins, which travel in groups and show a curved fin on their backs. Right whales look different:

• No fin on the back. A right whale's back is broad, dark and smooth.
• A V-shaped blow. When a right whale exhales, the spray often splits into two plumes that form a V.
• Rough white patches on the head. These are callosities, and their pattern is unique to each whale. Researchers use them like fingerprints.
• Slow movement. Mothers and calves often rest near the surface and move slowly, which is part of why they are so vulnerable to boats.

The 500 yard rule, and why it covers more than boats

Federal law requires vessels, paddleboarders and aircraft, including drones, to stay at least 500 yards away from right whales. That is about five football fields. The rule matters most along our coast during calving season, when mothers and newborn calves are resting near the surface.

If you are on the water and see a whale, slow down, keep watching, and move away carefully. NOAA also asks anglers to bring in fishing gear that is not in use, since entanglement is one of the biggest threats to the species. From the beach, the rules are simple: enjoy the view and leave the drone in the bag.

How to report a sighting

Reports from the public help researchers and the aerial survey teams find and track mothers and calves. NOAA Fisheries lists these ways to report:

• Call NOAA at (877) WHALE-HELP, which is (877) 942-5343.
• Boaters can hail the U.S. Coast Guard on marine VHF channel 16.

If it is safe, note the time, your location and which way the whale was moving. A photo taken from a legal distance, or from the beach, can help researchers identify the individual whale.

Part of a First Coast winter

People who move here from colder places often expect winter in Northeast Florida to be a quiet off season. In a lot of ways it is. The beaches empty out, the air is crisp, and you can walk for a mile without passing anyone. But the ocean is anything but quiet. Northern gannets dive offshore, flocks of shorebirds work the tide line, and somewhere out past the breakers, a calf a few weeks old may be learning to swim.

If you are still getting a feel for the season, our post on what winter looks like in Northeast Florida fills in the rest of the picture, and living with Florida wildlife covers the neighbors you will meet closer to home.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is right whale season in Northeast Florida?

NOAA Fisheries describes the right whale calving season as running from mid-November through mid-April. That is when mothers and calves are most likely to be in the coastal waters off Georgia and Northeast Florida.

Can you see right whales from the beach in Jacksonville or Ponte Vedra?

Sometimes. Right whales can travel close to shore off Northeast Florida, and people occasionally spot them from the beach on calm days. Sightings are never guaranteed, so binoculars and patience help.

How close can you get to a right whale in Florida?

Federal law requires boats, paddleboards and aircraft, including drones, to stay at least 500 yards away from right whales.

Who do I call if I see a right whale?

Call NOAA at (877) WHALE-HELP, which is (877) 942-5343. Boaters can also contact the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF channel 16.

How many North Atlantic right whales are left?

The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium estimated about 384 right whales at the end of 2024, in a report released in October 2025.

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What To Do Right Now

1. Save NOAA's reporting number, (877) 942-5343, in your phone before your next beach walk.
2. Keep a pair of binoculars by the door from now through April.
3. If you boat or paddle, review the 500 yard rule and slow down in nearshore waters this winter.
4. Plan a calm, clear morning on the beach between Thanksgiving and spring and just watch the water.
5. If you are thinking about a home near the ocean, call or text me at (904) 863-6679 and we can talk through the beach towns from Amelia Island to St. Augustine.