As July Heats Up, The Jersey Shore Seems To Be Bustling

LONG BRANCH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The Jersey Shore seems to be bustling in July, there was a rare sight that created some excitement on the beach in Long Branch on Friday.

As CBS2's Christine Sloan reported, a huge whale was in the water jumping and gulping at fish with experienced kayakers next to it.

"And then we saw all the kayakers rush towards it and it breached out of the water. It almost turned and I thought it was going to smack down on them. That's how close it was," Laura Riley said.

Whales aren't dangerous, but the sight makes beach goers think of another creature that does bite.

"We are walking along the beach and my friend can't stop talking about shark, shark, sharks, how she's not going to go in the water," Barbara Beam said.

Recent sharks spotted in the waters off the Jersey Shore have kept some out of the water.

"They're going to bite me," one young swimmer said.

Long Branch was booming, especially for a week day. The beach, the posh stores, and the restaurants were packed.

"There's a lot of people today, it's really hot out today, it was nice," Angela D'Adamo said.

Business owners are hopeful that the good weather will hold up.

"I would say the weather has been a challenge. June was a challenge, July so far we're off to a good start and this weekend will be great," David Rothberg said.

Town officials are hoping it will be a great summer.

"July 4th was just a fantastic weekend, probably the busiest July 4 we've had in the last 5 or 10 years," Long Branch Business Administrator, Howard Woolley Jr. said.

Beaches will also have a lot of music festivals this season. There will be one in long Branch on July 18, to raise money for the Valerie Fund and kids with cancer.