A bright sunny day in the west Channel with dolphins galore and some nice humpacks.

Image: The leading point of a Delphinus megapod line.

2023 6-03 SB Channel

Blue skies and calm seas prevailed all day in the Channel, with little to no wind. Sightings were very good: 4000 long-beaked common dolphins and 6 humpback whales.

Our first encounter was with a few hundred dolphins south of Goleta Bay. Later, 12 miles off Elwood, the area was flush with numerous megapod lines, plenty of feeding sea birds and…humpback whales!

There were 6 whales seen in this dolphin hot spot, and we closely watched four. The first was extremely vocal and let loose some whines and/or trumpet blows on every surface interval. We also watched a pair of whales and another single.

As we moved out of the area to head home, one member of the pair did a giant breach behind us.

You never know what mother nature has in store.

Bob Perry

Condor Express, and

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