Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

[QC]

Buzz's Ramp Under Water thread reminded me to post some pics of one result of our Southern California weather anomaly. Our summer has been dry as usual, but very cool. Pacific water temp never came up, has maxed at about 62 - 64 although we usually hit 70 for a few days. The fishing has been bad, but we've got whales up the wazoo . . .

These shots are from two weeks ago just off of Palos Verdes Peninsula which juts out and divides Santa Monica Bay from Long Beach Harbor. We were headed to Catalina Island for an overnighter and . . .

First we spotted some blows:

Then we were in the middle of about 10 of these Fin whales:

And mixed in with them was this monster Blue Whale:

You can see the lighter color of the Blue along with the relatively tiny dorsal fin . . .

They think these usually rare Fins and Blues are around due to higher krill populations in the cooler water. So the party boats that market themselves also as whale watchers are doing well. Those that only fish are suckin' . . .

 

[nlain]

Re: Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

For some reason I do not see pics

 

[QC]

Re: Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

See if that helped. Odd as the pics were there for me even with a refresh, but I think I know why. I started this as a post in the Ramp thread, and then it felt like a hijack so I started a new thread with the same pic links . . .

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

Wow cool photos, must be a thrill to be so close to those behemoths

Hope the fishing improves!

 

[nlain]

Re: Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

Great pics

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

Cool...Thanks for sharing!

 

[eclark53520]

Re: Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

Very cool!

Don't get to see anything like that around Wisconsin...

 

[NO WHINERS]

Re: Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

Nice pictures QC...Thnx for sharing...I think the water temp even got into the 50"s this summer...Muy frio..

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

Nice Pics QC. Dude, tell me you wet a line when you came across that school.

 

[QC]

Re: Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

Dude, tell me you wet a line when you came across that school.

Not with them, but on the way back we tried to snag a few of these

They are very common here (Common Dolphin ) and we see them almost every trip out, but this was by far the largest Pod I've ever seen. Easily 500 spread across a wide swath. We find that about 8 - 10 knots is where they will stay in your bow wave for a while. No good pix of that as it is scary hanging over the bow holding a camera There were often 20 playing close enough to touch when they surfaced.

For those that know the area, that is the Isthmus at Catalina in the background of the second pic.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

Incredible experience Kevin, to be right in the middle of the whales and porpoises. Its great you got these shots, thanks for sharing them.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

and i thought the dolphins were cool.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

WOW those Dolphin pics rock. That has to be way cool!! You don't see much of that on the lake I boat on.

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: Cool Water equals new So Cal treat

Ahoy there! Mr Qool Cat Dude, that there is some beautifully captured moments.