Gray Whales Galore Off South OC Coast: Photos

DANA POINT, CA — Every year, spring break proves to be a very magical time just off the coast of Orange County, as gray whales on their northbound migration take a break and "vacation" in Dana Point.

Travelers aboard a Dana Wharf Whale Watching Vessel Wednesday were treated to a record day, with 25 gray whale sightings across six different trips.

On the Ocean Adventure vessels, travelers saw 13 different gray whales with three to seven whales encountered on every trip.

One whale breached three times, and another group of four were seen courting as they rolled about the water, displaying pectoral fins, bellies and high flukes just five miles from the coast.

"Even more exciting is the last wave of gray whales arriving will be the moms with their babies," Donna Kalez, general manager of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, told Patch. "So many gray whales tend to migrate close to shore of off the continental shelf, which is why now is the perfect time of the year to have an opportunity to whale watch and see these magnificent creatures."

To learn more about Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching, or to schedule a tour, visit the agency's website.