BajaNomad - Orcas in Loreto

Orcas in Loreto

bill erhardt - 4-20-2016 at 05:05 PM

I've heard there are killer whales in the area and finally got a first hand look this afternoon when I was provided an escort by a pod of about 50 as I rounded Punta Lobos.

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bill erhardt - 4-20-2016 at 05:09 PM

Loreto orcas

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BigBearRider - 4-20-2016 at 05:11 PM

¿How cool is that?

Udo - 4-20-2016 at 06:05 PM

These must be escapees from the cold water who said they are not going back to Alaska.

woody with a view - 4-20-2016 at 06:09 PM

Those range to the BdeLA area as well. Entirely different group than those off Calif and north.

Pacifico - 4-20-2016 at 06:14 PM

Great pics, Bill! We saw a pod of them last August off of Punta Banda. So cool to see them in the wild!

shari - 4-20-2016 at 07:18 PM

Fantastic photos and would be neat to find out what pod they are...we have a tropical type in these parts but sometimes they do stray down here from Socal too. Can you email me ones that we can use to ID them...the saddle patch area is what we need...thanks...sharibondy@gmail.com

Can you also note what type of behaviour they were engaged in....traveling(what direction & speed), feeding(on what), resting, play or anything noteworthy about them...also how many in the pod please!

Paulina - 4-20-2016 at 08:23 PM

Super awesome, it was your lucky day!

P>*)))>{

BooJumMan - 4-20-2016 at 08:27 PM

Wow! Very cool!

David K - 4-20-2016 at 08:54 PM

Great photos Bill!

toronja - 4-20-2016 at 09:09 PM

Awesome!! Thanks for sharing.

Russ - 4-21-2016 at 05:21 AM

That's really exciting! Memories of the Hood Canal, Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound ... Thanks

vandenberg - 4-21-2016 at 08:24 AM

Great shots Bill.
In my 20some years of fishing out of Loreto, I have only seen Orcas twice, and only in small pods of 5 or 6 animals.

bill erhardt - 4-21-2016 at 11:25 AM

Quote: Originally posted by shari

Fantastic photos and would be neat to find out what pod they are...we have a tropical type in these parts but sometimes they do stray down here from Socal too. Can you email me ones that we can use to ID them...the saddle patch area is what we need...thanks...sharibondy@gmail.com

Can you also note what type of behaviour they were engaged in....traveling(what direction & speed), feeding(on what), resting, play or anything noteworthy about them...also how many in the pod please!

Shari.....I sent pics of the orcas to your email address. I came across them yesterday afternoon around 3:00 p.m. (April 20) as I rounded Punta Lobos on the north end of Isla Carmen at:
N 26* 04.51'
W 111* 03.58'
They were traveling north at a pretty good clip, around 10 knots or so. I initially said that there were 50 in the pod, but it may have been as few as 30. They were in three or four smaller groups and I was trying to stay close enough to some of them to get some pics. They were not trying to avoid me, but neither were they slowing down to help me with good photo ops.

Meany - 4-21-2016 at 11:36 AM

Out Standing Shots...Thanks.

shari - 4-21-2016 at 11:41 AM

thanks so much for the info....I have duly sent it on to Killer Whale researchers in California.

Santiago - 4-21-2016 at 12:50 PM

Wow, red letter day. Thanks for posting. You been out to Thetis Bank recently? Miss those phis photos.

Loreto Orcas

tehag - 4-21-2016 at 05:36 PM

Nice pics. They have been seen, and videoed, feeding on the Mobulas which are super abundant here in Loreto this year.

bill erhardt - 4-21-2016 at 06:50 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Santiago

Wow, red letter day. Thanks for posting. You been out to Thetis Bank recently? Miss those phis photos.

I brought my boat back across the hill in late January. The pelagics should be back on the banks outside Mag Bay around August and I plan to be over there to meet them.

LukeJobbins - 4-21-2016 at 07:33 PM

Cool pictures. I've seen a few orcas from a distance but never close. Life goal for my mex trips.
Does anybody know if the rocks/cliffs in the picture background are solid enough to rock climb? Im always on the lookout for new climbing areas. I've found a few here and there, and with how "dangerous" baja is and such little info around most climbers never step foot in baja so the climbing data is a little scarce. The problem is a lot of the rocks and cliffs are that crappy sand rock that breaks off in your hand. Thanks.

motoged - 4-21-2016 at 11:29 PM

Great pics of a wonderful experience !

Loretana - 4-22-2016 at 11:02 AM

Your fishing adventures and photos never fail to delight and amaze me Bill. Thanks for sharing!

BajaBlanca - 4-22-2016 at 12:46 PM

amazing! hope to see them one day !

Howard - 4-22-2016 at 03:37 PM

Took a float by that exact area today and the Orcas were gone to another location. Lots and lots of dancing Manta Rays and the Orcas must of scared away the Yellowtail as well as they were gone as well

)

LukeJobbins, too a good look at the cliff formations and there was no loose gravel at the bottom of them . I am not Geologist but if they were gravel, wouldn't there be loose rocks at the bottom?