Gray Whale Sighting Off Dana Point

DANA POINT, CA — Gray whales have begun their annual 12,000 mile migration past Southern California, making their way down the west coast of North America to the warm waters of Baja California, Mexico, a little early this season.

"Whale watchers aboard our high-tech catamaran were treated to the first gray whale of the 2018-2019 season on Halloween. Gray whales are typically not seen until late November or early December," Captain Dave Anderson said. "Our own Captain Tom was enjoying his day off with an afternoon of surfing off San Onofre State Beach when his wife spotted a gray whale. He called us to let us know of the sighting."

According to Captain Marie, who was at the helm of Manute’a, the gray whale is on the skinny side but looks to be doing okay.

“It has lots of barnacles and some whale lice, but otherwise looks healthy,” Marie said. "A second gray whale was spotted further in the distance however we did not have enough time to get a good look at it."

According to Anderson, gray whales average between 40 to 50 feet in length and weigh 30 to 40 tons. Each fall they depart the cold waters of the Bering and Chukchi seas, near Alaska, where they spend the summer bottom feeding on small crustaceans called amphipods.

The whales travel about 6,000 miles to the warm and protected lagoons of Baja to mate and give birth to their calves. Calves are about 15 feet long when they’re born and will gain over 50 pounds a day feeding on mother’s milk.

"The whales will spend several weeks in these warmer waters, with new mothers lingering the longest to give the calves time to increase their layer of blubber," he said. "In the spring gray whales will make their way back up the coast with new their calves, giving onlookers another opportunity to catch a glimpse of the majestic whales."

Southern California residents are familiar with the annual migration of these large marine mammals and know Dana Point to be one of the best places to view the migration. Gray whales often travel within a mile or two of the coast, and are believed to use Dana Point’s headlands as a landmark on their route. Many residents, as well as visitors to the Orange County area, have experienced unique gray whale encounters aboard Captain Dave’s customized catamarans, which depart from Dana Point Harbor.

Every March Dana Point celebrates migrating gray whales and other marine wildlife with annual Festival of Whales. Ocean-themed event and activities that have an emphasis on education and environmental responsibility attract nearly 100,000 visitors each year.

During their migration gray whales face many challenges including attacks from killer whales, and one particular hazard which takes the lives of nearly 1,000 dolphins and whales every day around the world. An estimated 308,000 dolphins and whales worldwide die every year because of entanglement in fishing gear. Captain Dave Anderson organized Orange County’s first whale rescue group, and alongside other rescue team members, has disentangled many whales, including several gray whales.

Video filmed by drone pilot Grayden Fanning and videographer Craig DeWitt