2016 03-02 SB Channel
No fog ! The warm sun bathed the region and a light breeze blew across the inshore waters where Captain Dave along with his sharp-eyed deckhand, Tasha, located a total of 80 long-beaked common dolphins, 3 humpback whales and 3 gray whales today. Here are the details:
12 noon After a slow and methodical passage out of Santa Barbara Harbor around the shoal markers and the harbor dredge barge, La Encina, it did not take too long for Tasha to spot the first of about 10 small pods of common dolphins. These were small pods made up of 10 or so individuals, but they were curious about the Condor Express and did extensive wake-riding.
Twenty minutes later Tasha found a small hot spot with birds diving, sea lions and dolphins milling around, and, sure enough tall spouts. This turned out to be 3 adult humpback whales working on small northern anchovy bait balls. The feeding was mostly sub-surface, but we did see one vertical lunge. Dave also put us right next to a small bait ball so we could see the fish and their predators close up.
Onward we went, and about an hour later we got located on a trio of northbound gray whales. There was a single, very shy, whale, and a pair of regular-breathing cycle gray whales. Good looks were had by all.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express
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