Keen whale watchers are not only seeing more whales than ever, but this year they also seem to be actively feeding on small bait fish and other food sources, which indeed is unusual.

Bermagui commercial line and trap fisherman Jason Moyce had an incredible experience at the 12-Mile Reef off Bermagui on Monday.

He estimated he saw as many as 50 whales together with hundreds of dolphins and seals all feeding on baitfish.

Island Charters skipper Chris Smith meanwhile last week encountered a group of humpback whales feeding on what appeared to be krill next to his charter boat at Montague Island.

Also watching the whales on Narooma waters is Dalmeny resident Jon Poyner, who together with his teenage daughter Georgia spends a lot of time on the water.

“Yes we have seen many more whales this time around,” Jon said.

“I think the large schools of pilchards are keeping them in close where they would normally be further offshore.

“We even saw a heat run late one afternoon where a group of males battled for a female.”

He also noted the whales showed up early and that the first whales they saw, as well as others spotted on the Whale Watch website, were heading north in April.

Georgia even recently snapped what she believed was a heat run where the males were battling for a female.

Whale season has also well and truly started to the south with many sightings just out from both Merimbula and Eden.

Keen whale watcher and photographer Peter Whiter from Eden took some great photos earlier this month of whales feeding on pilchards when he was just to the south east of Long Point, Merimbula.

“It was an amazing experience seeing it and being amongst it all.”

Peter said he personally had only seen a whale feeding on bait fish once before but this year they all seemed to be doing it.

People are encouraged to share their whale sightings, tweet with the hashtag #whaleon to @WildAboutWhales or log the sighting using the free app so others in the area can view the animal and track its movements.

Head to the Wild About Whales website at www.wildaboutwhales.com.au

Whale distance regulations: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/animals/WhaleRegulation.htm

During the season we will be updating this gallery with whale photos. If you would like to add yours to the gallery email a photo with your details and where you saw the whales to stan.gorton@fairfaxmedia.com.au

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