Image: NOAA Fisheries

BY JESSICA GOODWIN

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

A female surfer narrowly avoided becoming the main course for a giant humpback whale off the coast of Santa Cruz. And the incredible moment was all caught on camera-

Naturally reactions to the video have varied. One blogger for Cafe Mom keeps it light, saying...

“Sounds a little fishy, a little unbelievable, but the entire thing was caught on video, and believe me, it's a sight to behold...Slap my ass and call me Ishmael because this is one whale of a tale.”

But outdoors blogger Pete Thomas says being so close to these majestic creatures can be dangerous, and it’s not something to take lightly.

“This represents perhaps the most amazing recent footage of lunge-feeding humpback whales in close proximity to people. It's also another example of how reckless some people behave among massive and powerful wild animals.”

The surprise encounter can be credited to the whales searching for food unusually close to the shore line. It’s not the first occurrence in recent weeks and naturally many are keen to get up close with the humpbacks.

But CBS has a word of warning to whale enthusiasts -- you may be charged with ‘whale harassment.’  

“What I think is most interesting about this story though, is that the coast guard has now come out and said by the way you have to stay at least 100 yards away from the humpback whales, otherwise its whale harassment, literally, whale harassment. And you’ll be fine $2500.”

The idea of “whale harassment” has raised some eyebrows. A Human Events blogger is baffled that the largest creatures on Earth are being bullied by humans armed with cameras. He goes on to say-

“Yes, it's true that with the flip of a tail, one of these whales could seriously injure someone, but that's yet to occur. And if it did happen, it seems to me that the injured spectator should receive a Darwin Award, not pay a multi-thousand-dollar fine... As a taxpayer, I'd rather see the Coast Guard chasing drug traffickers, as opposed to whale watchers.”

But the superintendent of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary tells the San Francisco Chronicle,  there is a good reason for the hefty fine. According to the Coast Guard, any human interaction with feeding whales can disrupt their feeding patterns.

"The sheer number of folks crowding around the whales is not only an issue for the whales themselves, but also public safety...”

Even BarbRoettger,who filmed filmed the footage of the surfers, admits to ABC News that she was a little too close for comfort.

“We were crazy to be out there [FLASH] From now on I’m going to watch whales from up on bluffs like this.”