Another sunny day with plenty of dolphins and a couple of nice Whales.

Image: a densely packed school of northern anchovies, often called a “bait ball.”

2025 09–12 SB Channel

Clear and skinny skies, and an ocean with a rippled surface, surrounded captain Dave and the crew as the Condor Express went offshore in search of wildlife. There was a medium sized bump from the W caused by winds overnight offshore. Total sightings for the day included: 1 Minke whale, 3500 common dolphins and 2 humpback whales.

We slowed down when we were halfway to the farm and got very good looks at a single, adult, Minke whale. It had many surface intervals and at one point came close to the Condor Express. We continued moving south.

Our first megapod of dolphins was near the farm. There were several more megapods around during the day. The water was amazingly clear at this location, and Dave stopped the boat so we could look over the side and see a giant anchovy bait ball… The source of food for dolphins, birds and whales. (See today’s photograph for an example). We kept moving S towards the buoy.

There were 2 individual humpback whales near the buoy. We watched one of them and it took us on a fast travel directly E at 10 kts. We passed several birdnados with lots of dolphins. After a few miles of frustration, trying to get looks at the speedy humpback, Dave reversed his course and tried to get back to see the other whale. But the W wind chop was too bumpy and eventually we headed towards Platform Charle. They pulled up near the platform at a safe distance and provided information about the parts of the platform, the depth of the water, and where are the oil and gas goes (it goes to San Pedro). 

During the trip today, our fearless deckhand, Isabel, put the gaff on three different Mylar balloons and yanked them out of the ocean to prevent harming marine life.

You never know what mother nature has in store.

Bob Perry

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