Oggie
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Registered: 6-16-2009
Location: Carlsbad, CA/BOLA
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Mood: Missing Baja
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Whale Sharks in Bahia de los Angeles
On our recent trip to BOLA in late July. We were watching two whale sharks in front of Guillermo's, from our front porch, when we noticed a panga
racing around near shore. It was like slow motion as he headed straight for one of the sharks. The sun was setting and shining directly into the
pangero's eyes and he never saw the shark. He hit it with the motor. The motor must not have been locked down because flew up. We launched our kayaks
and headed toward the sharks. When we arrived both sharks were still there swimming slowly feeding, then two young men from Ocean Discovery Institute
arrived with snorkel gear and dove in to inspect for any injury to the sharks. After a pretty complete inspection they could not see any damage. We
stayed with them until it started to get dark and they seemed fine.
A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.
Knights of Pythagoras
Funny how falling feels like flying
for a little while - Bad Blake
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda
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Thanks for the "happy ending" report.
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Debra
Super Nomad
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Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Dang it Bob! I kept watching those pangas in front of my house at Gecko while I was there, the Whale Sharks were coming in (early I guess) I'd watch
the sharks and then a panga would come roaring by as I held my breath 
Made me want to take a page from the Sea Sheapards and find myself a prop fowler! The panaleros know darn well that the sharks are at the south bay
when the water temp. gets to 74 degrees! Yes I know, it their country, but, being that Whale Sharks are one of the main tourist attractions in Bahia,
you would think that they would do more to protect their own livelyhood. Sheesh!
Mean people suck!
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Russ
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
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I love a happy ending! Nice report.
Debra, I move down here from Port Orchard area, Wye Lake. Worked for the County Parks.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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Debra
Super Nomad
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Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Russ, Wye lake is only a few miles from my house, sorry we didn't get together before you moved.
Mean people suck!
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windgrrl
Super Nomad
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Registered: 9-2-2006
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Beautiful creatures - thanks for sharing your great snaps.
When the way comes to an end, then change. Having changed, you pass through.
~ I-Ching
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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Nice work, Oggie!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Oggie
After a pretty complete inspection they could not see any damage.
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You mean the motor didn't slice them open. But an impact at that speed is going to do something. Internal damage isn't apparent to visual inspection.
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Oggie
Nomad
Posts: 312
Registered: 6-16-2009
Location: Carlsbad, CA/BOLA
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Mood: Missing Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
| Quote: | Originally posted by Oggie
After a pretty complete inspection they could not see any damage.
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You mean the motor didn't slice them open. But an impact at that speed is going to do something. Internal damage isn't apparent to visual inspection.
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Not having an MRI machine in the kayak we did the best we could. I've heard that whale sharks have the thickest skin of any animal(5").
A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.
Knights of Pythagoras
Funny how falling feels like flying
for a little while - Bad Blake
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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My post was not directed at you so why the sarcasm?
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Too bad some Nomads don't have as thick a skin! (including me sometimes, LOL!)
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Canuto y Canito
I liked it better when he was with Hanna Barbara:
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chillaxin
Newbie
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Registered: 8-17-2010
Location: San Diego
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Looks to me like your post was directed at Oggie, Skipjack. If not sarcastic. i would say, snotty. Telling a guy what he means. come on. Oh, what's
with the cartoon?
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cymeryss
Junior Nomad
Posts: 50
Registered: 12-20-2004
Location: San Diego
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Mood: So much to see, so little time...
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Great story hope everything is well is the whale sharks.
I am curious if the whale sharks will still be there in the beginning of September, planning a trip to BOLA and would love to see them. Hope I am not
hijacking the thread...thanks for any input.
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bacquito
Super Nomad
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Registered: 3-6-2007
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Mood: jubilado
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Great, interesting report and photos
bacquito
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3810
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
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| Quote: | Originally posted by cymeryss
Great story hope everything is well is the whale sharks.
I am curious if the whale sharks will still be there in the beginning of September, planning a trip to BOLA and would love to see them. Hope I am not
hijacking the thread...thanks for any input. |
Yes, the whale sharks will still be there. I believe that they stick around sometimes till November. I was lucky enough to find two on my last day and
cruised around with them on my stand up paddle board.
The whale sharks can be hard to see if the water is choppy or if they are below the surface of the water. They don't always skim the surface or show
fins like the three in this photo .
This summer it seemed that the whale sharks were staying about a foot under the water. The whales in these photos were like that. The water was clear
yet we still almost didn't see them until we were right on top of them.
We hit one once a couple of years ago, going only 5 mph. It was below the surface - we never saw it. Our motor was in the locked position - not good-
as it almost flipped our panga over sideways. It sent me flying into the front and Dern almost lost his grip on the motor.
We learned to unlock our motor after that.
This whale shark obviously had a run in with a propeller (not ours)
We saw one whale shark this summer with it's entire dorsal fin shredded and it's not so uncommon to see nicks out of them and the tail.
I watched the tourist pangas go by my place all summer heading for Rincon to see the whales. For the most part they were observing the 5mph buoys.
P<*)))><
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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David A.
Nomad
Posts: 120
Registered: 9-15-2003
Location: Angelus Oaks, CA./Gecko, Bahia de Los Angeles
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I was going to ask if Doc had the area marked off again.
Sounds like he does.
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
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Yep, the orange buoys are in place. I believe Doc said there are around 40 whale sharks in the bay. You guys should be getting ready to head that
direction soon.
P<*)))><
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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cymeryss
Junior Nomad
Posts: 50
Registered: 12-20-2004
Location: San Diego
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Mood: So much to see, so little time...
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Thanks for your input, I can't wait to go now.....
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