Image: A humpback whale rises up through choppy seas.
2023 08-27 SB Channel
We started the trip under hazy sunshine with thin ground fog nearby. There was a moderate bump on the water from strong winds offshore. The good news is that everything quieted down as we moved close to shore off Platform Holly. Sightings included: 2500 long-beaked common dolphins, 25 offshore bottlenose dolphins, 2 humpback whales, 1 flying fish and 1 white shark. The crew also removed one deflated Mylar balloon from the ocean surface.
We had a few common dolphins a few miles south of the harbor, white watching them, a flying fish took off near our bow and “flew” several hundred yards to make a splashdown well past our stern.
A small pod of offshore bottlenose dolphins was watched. There were several calves among them. Around noon we saw our first large pod of common dolphins, and soon thereafter we started to follow a humpback. The whale was running a straight course to the east and, after many dozen dives, it showed a half-tail fluke while sideways to the boat.
Later we saw a distant spout and then watched a second humpback. It showed its tail frequently. This sighting was interrupted by the presence of a 10-foot white shark that was finning near the Condor Express. Its body was just below the surface and the water here was not particularly clear. Nevertheless, it was a great sighting.
More dolphins were seen on the way home.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com