WHALE watchers were treated to an exceptional show off Tasmania's East Coast yesterday as a herd of humpbacks appeared to frolic in the choppy seas.

There have been hundreds of sightings of humpbacks and Southern right whales since the mammals' southerly migration started about a month ago.

Dozens of people lined the beach at Bicheno yesterday morning, letting out cheers as humpbacks leaped from the waves.

The humpback in this photo, taken by Bicheno photographer Tim Buckley, was about 300m off Peggys Point.

Gallery: Whales in Tasmania



East Coast Tourism chief executive Stuart Perry said other whales thrilled the crowd by coming within 100m of shore.

"The humpbacks seem to take delight in the rougher water," Mr Perry said.

"The strong winds whipped up the waves and the whales just seem to revel in those conditions and leap from the water, slap their tails in the waves and roll on their sides and flap their pectoral fins."

He said they could be seen from Bay of Fires to Maria Island.

sally.glaetzer@news.com.au

Originally published as Humpbacks come out to play