A high stratus layer made everything gray, including…two gray whales. We also saw dolphins and Minke.
- Bob Perry
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
2026 03–22 SB Channel
The stratus layer was up off the water so, although things were very gray all day, we did have good lateral visibility for spotting wildlife. We have had persistent Santa Barbara Cobalt, super clear water, which continued today. A pair of 2.5hr trips left the docks, with most of the action coming in the morning. Total sightings for the day: 2 gray whales, 1 Minke whale, and 1075 common dolphins (a pod of 1000 dolphins was our only sighting on the 12N trip). Deckhand Isabel retrieved a single, floating, mylar balloon from the ocean surface… always a fan favorite!
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In the morning we were just a couple of miles S of the Harbor when we found 75 common dolphins spread over a wide area. They were fun to watch until spouts were seen SE of that location. It was a pair of gray whales. One was much larger than the other, and both were Nbd swimming up the coast at a regular speed. (See today’s photo for an example ). When we were close, strictly by chance, the excellent water clarity made them fun to watch as they traveled just below the surface. Breathtaking.
You never know what mother nature has in store.
Bob Perry
