BajaNomad

whales still in mulege...

Bob and Susan - 6-12-2008 at 09:28 PM

a pair of whales were spotted 8 miles off-shore mulege by our friends fishing for dorado today

isn't it kinda late in the season to see whales this far north in the sea of cortez???:?:

[Edited on 6-13-2008 by Bob and Susan]

whale.JPG - 20kB

CaboRon - 6-12-2008 at 09:45 PM

There are members of some species , such as some blues and humpbacks, that live in the Sea of Cortez pretty much all year.

CaboRon

Wiles - 6-13-2008 at 05:26 AM

Sperm whales. They love that squid.

Bob and Susan - 6-13-2008 at 05:27 AM

sperm whales...is that what these were???

Lauriboats - 6-13-2008 at 10:50 AM

One September day, we had two large sperm whales come up to our boat and say hi. We were out just past the point from the bay.

toneart - 6-13-2008 at 10:55 AM

I have seen whales fairly close in (off the lighthouse), several times. Someone told me they were "Fin Whales". They were very big! Apparently they live in these waters full time.

[Edited on 6-13-2008 by toneart]

toneart - 6-13-2008 at 10:58 AM

Fin Whale
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"Finback" redirects here. For the U.S. submarines of this name, see USS Finback.
Fin Whale
A Fin Whale surfaces in the Kenai Fjords, Alaska
A Fin Whale surfaces in the Kenai Fjords, Alaska
Size comparison against an average human
Size comparison against an average human
Conservation status

Endangered (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Eutheria
Order: Cetacea
Suborder: Mysticeti
Family: Balaenoptiidae
Genus: Balaenoptera
Species: B. physalus
Binomial name
Balaenoptera physalus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Fin Whale range
Fin Whale range

The Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus), also called the Finback Whale or Razorback or Common Rorqual, is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales. It is the second largest whale and the second largest living animal after the Blue Whale,[2] growing to nearly 27 meters (88 ft) long.[2]

Long and slender, the Fin Whale's body is brownish-grey with a paler underside. There are at least two distinct subspecies: the Northern Fin Whale of the North Atlantic, and the larger Antarctic Fin Whale of the Southern Ocean. It is found in all the world's major oceans, from polar to tropical waters. It is absent only from waters close to the ice pack at both the north and south poles and relatively small areas of water away from the open ocean. The highest population density occurs in temperate and cool waters.[3] Its food consists of small schooling fish, squid and crustaceans including mysids and krill.

Like all other large whales, the Fin Whale was heavily hunted during the twentieth century and is an endangered species. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has issued a moratorium on commercial hunting of this whale,[4] although Iceland and Japan have announced intentions to resume hunting, the latter country stating it will kill a quota of 50 whales for the 2008 season. Collisions with ships and noise from human activity are also significant threats to the recovery of the species.

wsdunc - 6-13-2008 at 11:50 AM

I was close to 3 finback whales once in my 15 ft Gregor. We were a few miles off of the Sana Inez islands and there were a lot of humboldt squid around. Awesome animals, especially from a small boat. The head would go by, and then, after what seemed like a long time, the tail.

toneart - 6-13-2008 at 11:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by wsdunc
I was close to 3 finback whales once in my 15 ft Gregor. We were a few miles off of the Sana Inez islands and there were a lot of humboldt squid around. Awesome animals, especially from a small boat. The head would go by, and then, after what seemed like a long time, the tail.


Yes! I think those three are a family living around there. As one swims along it looks like The Loch Ness Monster the way(as you describe) first the head goes by.....then water...followed by a back with fin.......more water.....followed by a huge tail. Ya gotta have a lot of faith getting so near in a 15' Gregor. :o

Wiles - 6-13-2008 at 03:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
sperm whales...is that what these were???


Yes sir. Blunt head, single blowhole on left side of head, stubby dorsal fin, grey color. They eat up to one ton of squid and other stuff daily. Grow to 60'. Nice sighting.

Martyman - 6-13-2008 at 03:57 PM

Pompano? Thar she blows?