Three trips for excellent gray whale sightings, and much more.
- Bob Perry
- Mar 25
- 2 min read
2026 03–24 SB Channel
9A, 12 N, and 3P: we ran a trio of 2.5 hour excursions today. There was a light fog which dissipated as the day progressed, so the afternoon trip was actually sunny. Although the surface was glassy, there was a little bit of a bump from the west. Water clarity remains excellent. Totals for the day: 9 gray whales, 500 common dolphins, 50 offshore bottlenose dolphins, and 1 Minke whale.
We had quick and close looks at a trio of coastal bottlenose dolphins at the harbor entrance to get the morning trip started. From there, Captain Eddy and the crew located and followed 3 gray whales. Although they had long down times, it was a nice encounter. As we headed back, we found another gray, again right outside the Harbor entrance.
As we left the Harbor for the noon excursion, we found another gray whale and followed it up to the lighthouse as it traveled right along the edge of the kelp. (See today’s photo for an example). About 6 miles offshore we watched a single Minke whale, and then a pair of additional gray whales.
The afternoon trip got started when we found a nice-sized pod of 500 common dolphins near Ledbetter in the bright sun. There were lots of calves, which is always wonderful to observe. After moving SW, we got involved with a wonderful interaction between 3 active gray whales and 50 energetic offshore bottlenose dolphins. The interaction seemed to get the gray whales “stimulated,” they did quite a bit of rolling around and spy hopping with the dolphins. Captain Eddy punctuated this, the last sighting of the day, by putting the Condor Express into a tight loop which frequently puts the dolphins into their surfing mode. Today their surf session was acrobatic and aerial.
You never know what mother nature has in store.
Bob Perry
