Dana Wharf Blog

Quick Facts about Humpback Whales Acrobatic Displays: Humpback whales are known for their spectacular acrobatic behaviors, including breaching (jumping out of the water) and tail-slapping. Unique Songs: Male humpback whales are famous for their complex and haunting songs that are believed to be for mating purposes and communication. Some can last up to 20 minutes!…

This week’s sightings have been quite spectacular, including Blue Whales and Minke Whales, as well as thousands of dolphins. We were thrilled to spot a Blue Whale cow/calf pair feeding not far from the Dana Point Harbor. It’s wonderful to see the largest animal on the planet returning from the brink of extinction. Although still…

Quick Facts about the Gray Whale The lineage of baleen whales, including ancestors of gray whales, dates back tens of millions of years. They have a mottled gray coloration on their skin, covered in patches of barnacles and whale lice, giving them a distinct and recognizable appearance. They have baleen plates on each side of…

Passengers from around the globe are excited to witness the grandeur of the Majestic Blue Whale – the largest animal to have ever existed on earth! Sadly, Blue Whales are still endangered, with only 1,900-2,200 estimated to be present in the local population in Southern California Bight during summers. These Blue Whales migrate north from…

Quick Blue Whale Facts A Blue Whale’s tongue weighs the same as an African Elephant or 10,000 to 15,000 pounds (4.5 to 6.8 tons). A hundred people can fit in the Blue Whale’s gigantic mouth by volume. They can consume several tons of krill per day during peak feeding. Calves may gain on the order…

What a Fantastic week of whale watching with Blue Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Dolphin and so many Mola molas! Multiple Blue Whales encountered 6 days in a row!  Blue Whales are feeding almost exclusively on krill and often swim in circles during feeding dives to stay close to their food.  It…

During a recent whale watching trip with Dana Wharf Whale Watch, passengers were able to witness the largest and second largest animals in the world, Blue Whales and Fin Whales, in their natural habitat. The Fin Whales were seen feeding and traveling northbound, with some even breaching and “greyhounding” across the water. These enormous creatures…

Fishing for bass has improved with water temperatures reaching between 64-65 degrees. The most successful approach this week has been utilizing Carolina rigs or straight sliders with sliding egg sinkers. Using a lighter line, around 10-12lb, has proven effective for catching both sand bass and calico bass. Additionally, half-day trips have yielded some nice sheepshead…

Blue Whale Palooza and Fin Whales, including a Fin Whale cow/calf Pair! Passengers aboard Dana Wharf Whale Watch have been thrilled with Blue Whale sightings off Dana Point for 19 out of the first 25 days of June. These impressive creatures have been spotted mostly 6-9 miles offshore, moving northwest at approximately 4 knots. Many…

This week, water temperatures have been varied, ranging from the coolest at 60.5° to 65° at the start of the week. It seems that mixed-up conditions and some downhill current may have contributed to this. Despite the cool water, bass fishing has been as good as expected. Those looking to catch some bass have had…

Beautiful Blue and Friendly Fin Whales! About seven miles off San Onofre in what is often a very productive area, we encountered one of several Blue Whales seen this week!  This whale stayed very close to the surface between dives.  Even under the gray skies, we could see its massive body’s “blue glow”!  During the…

A Rare Sperm Whale Spotted by Captain Steve at Dana Wharf! Sperm whales are some of the biggest toothed whales in the ocean, with males weighing up to 50 tons or more than 700 people, according to the National Wildlife Federation. They can be very elusive with hour-long dives and usually travel in deeper waters further…