Three trips with a TV star, lots of dolphins, humpbacks and gray whales too.
- Bob Perry
- Feb 24, 2024
- 2 min read
Image: A humpback whale MUGS the Condor Express.
2024 02-24 SB Channel
Mirror flat glass seas, sunny skies and clear water were the hallmarks of a great trio of expeditions today. 9a, 12n and 3p trips left the docks and the following total are the total sightings for the day: 2500 long-beaked common dolphins, 4 humpback whales and 5 gray whales.
Our 9a trip was a private charter by Jennifer Hudson and her crew. As I understand it, she has always wanted to go whale watching, and so she will make today’s trip part of one of her shows. Check https://jenniferhudsonshow.com/ for more information. Mother Nature did not disappoint. Things got started with a couple thousand dolphins just 3 miles south of The Mesa. Small groups, in the hundreds, were spread out over a wide area. A spectacular double breach and an episode of lob-tailing ahead soon revealed a pair of very friendly adult humpbacks. They mugged the Condor Express, and the sighting was enhanced by the crystal, clear water. (See today’s photo for an example). The pair swam back and forth under the boat, swam around both sides then played in our jet wash.
Noon began with a single humpback, then a pod of 500 dolphins, and then a second humpback whale. We left the first whale, then, while enjoying the dolphins, a second whale came into the zone. Finally, the first humpback found the action and joined the mix.
The afternoon trip was the “gray whale” trip. Three miles south of the harbor we watched a pair. Later a trio was watched six miles out. All were adult gray whales on their northbound migration.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store,
Bob Perry,
Condor Express and