Calm seas, clear water, and A LOT of whales...including a major MUGGING.

Image: A humpback whale mugs the Condor Express.

2023 6-12 SB Channel

Calm seas prevailed and there was a persistent marine layer keeping things cool and slightly gray. On the mid-Channel whale grounds, the water clarity was exceptional today! Captain Devin and the crew ran out towards the NOAA East Channel Buoy and closely watched: 12+ humpback whales, 2500 long-beaked common dolphins and 2+ ocean sunfish (Mola mola).

Near the kelp farm we intersected a small pod of 100 or so dolphins and they followed us for a short while, riding our wake waves, as we continued south.

East of The Buoy, we located the remaining dolphins and all of the whales within a 2- or 3-mile area. Things kicked off with a pair of adults in travel mode. A third traveler soon joined the pair. A bit further along another pair came directly to the Condor Express and mugged the boat for an hour. It was mostly a rostrum-touching-our-sides encounter, but there was some rolling around, especially in our jetwash.

Responding to a breach we witnessed, we found a major hot spot with thousands of dolphins and a LOT of whales, perhaps 20 or more. We did not have time to stop and engage each whale, or pair, or trio…hence I added a (+) to the daily count. One of the whales did a nice bit of tail-throwing.

We also watched two ocean sunfish (Mola mola).

You never know what mother nature has in store.

Bob Perry

Condor Express, and

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