Blue whales are making an incredible showing off the Southern California coast now. The largest creatures to have ever inhabited the earth are feeding on large quantities of krill from San Diego to Santa Barbara.
Captain Chris Batts was running the spotfishing boat Gail Force when one of the leviathans surfaced right off his stern. "Talk about a wake up call," said Batts. "It startled quite a few of us."
Nearby, a Channel 7 News helicopter was hovering above the Christopher out of Harbor Breeze Cruises in Long Beach taking dramatic photos and video of at least 7 blue whales in the area. Captain Danny Salas reports that there are copious amounts of krill in the area. "I don't think these beautiful whales are going anywhere," said Salas. "Now is a great time for people to come out and see this."
Blue whales have also been seen in big numbers by boaters off San Diego and Baja California. Rosarito Beach Hotel patrons have been seeing the whales while relaxing on their balconies for at least few days now.
Dana Wharf Whale Watching has been seeing more and more blue whales on every trip. Last week, they also saw a great white shark that surfed the bow wake of the Dana Pride. "There is so much life that it's incredible," said Captain Larry Hartman.
In Santa Barbara, it has not been uncommon for the Condor Express to see as many as 20 blues along with lots of humpback whales on a single trip.
Perhaps the most amazing moment came on Saturday when a paddle boater had an up close and personal encounter with one of the mammoth creatures. Captain Dave Anderson from Dolphin and Whale Safari filmed the dramatic encounter just off Dana Wharf.
The estimated 90 foot creature surface just feet away from the paddle boarder before showing its mighty fluke to him before going for a deep dive.
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