Killer whales again.
- Bob Perry
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
2026 04–03 SB Channel
Skies were partly cloudy, there was a medium size lump from the W. The wind was very light and created only ripples. 2 trips left the docks: 9A and 12 N. Total sightings for the day: 1100 common dolphins, 2 gray whales (a drive-by sighting), 1 humpback whale and 8 killer whales (6 were close to the boat). 3, very tiny, dinner-plate sized ocean sunfish (Mola mola) were also observed.
In the morning we did not slow down but saw 300 common dolphins very close to the Harbor entrance. We had a report from the fishing vessel Stardust about possible killer whales pretty far offshore to the SW. At the mouth of the Santa Cruz channel, and at the edge of the lanes, we encountered 8 killer whales (CA-122D pod). 6 that came close to the boat included 3 adult females with their calves. In the distance there were 2 additional whales, a CX crewmember thought 1 of them might be an adult male. There was some tail-slapping (see today’s photo for an example), and juveniles breaching.
The afternoon adventure ran SW to the very far edge of the lanes. There were 2 adult gray whales off Leadbetter Beach, but we did not stop because our goal was to return to the killer whales. Similarly, we had very quick looks at a larger pod of 800 common dolphins that were spread over 1/2 mile. Near the NOAA buoy we happened upon a single large adult humpback whale. It showed good tail flukes, and at one point it popped up right next to the boat. It then proceeded to mug the Condor Express on all sides and everybody was thrilled. A young passenger pointed out what he thought was “3 sharks” on the surface. It turned out to be 3 very small ocean sunfish (Mola mola). We later learned that the killer whales had moved far to the west and were impossible to reach even though we tried!
You never know what mother nature has in store.
Bob Perry
