Killer whales in Monterey Bay

Alright, before anybody tries to be a smartass and say that this is the "Fish Talk" board and orcas are mammals (not fish), let me just say, I know. LOL! This just seemed like the most-appropriate place for this post.

Killer whales in Monterey Bay. Nothing new. But the SC Sentinal printed an article about some recent sightings.
There is a cool video of some orcas that were seen off PG/Monterey recently. The biologist in the video says that these are resident orcas that feed mainly on salmon. As opposed to the transient orcas that eat marine mammals and whales. They have traveled long distance to find the salmon. Does this mean that there are some salmon in the Bay right now???! Could this somehow be a good sign?

Here's the article. Note that the orcas were seen within kayak range both times: 4 miles off PG and 1 mile off Monterey. Now that’s scary AND cool!
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_8366532

And here's the video: http://www.santacruzlive.com/blogs/video/2008/02/25/sentinel-video-killer-whales-visit-monterey-bay/

Good stuff, PK.  Hopefully those are the only dorsal's I see today!   

Hopefully those are the only dorsal's I see today!

I was hoping you would see a Silver Dorsal

This mean salmon fishing is good in Monterey?  Starting to sound like a huge bait ball to chase, if you don't mind competing with Killer Whales!

Maybe this pack will scare off the "landlord"

Maybe this pack will scare off the "landlord"

An excellent point. Providing they don't mistake a kayak for a baby whale!

Maybe this pack will scare off the "landlord"

An excellent point. Providing they don't mistake a kayak for a baby whale!

I would almost be more worried with the curiosity of one of those whales.  A couple bumps and a tail flap and your in the drink with a pack of some of the smartest predators in the sea. 

As far as the salmon in Monterey Bay goes.  From what I understand there can be salmon in the bay almost any time of year and usually this time of year I hear whisperings down at the harbor about a couple fish being caught here and there as "by catch" (yeah right), but I have not heard much so far. 

That could be scary if they got too close while out on a kayak.

-FF

PK, As soon as I saw this my imagaination thought,"That would be cool to experience from my kayak". Then with my luck I would become a whale toy a few miles off the coast! Let's hope that their presents is a precursor to a great salmon season.

Ya, I have seen some crazy videos on Discovery Channel where the orcas "play" with their food, similarly to how cats will play with their catch. These orcas were flipping seals 20 feet into the air with their tails! It was almost like they were playing catch with each other, it was crazy.

I had an experience in Carmel last year, when two huge dolphins were charging right towards my friend Jeff and I. He started freaking out, saying that they were too big to be dolphins. So, being the good friend I am.....I started paddling as frantically as possible and yelling "GO GO GO!!! Those are killer whales!!!" Should've seen the look on his face when I stopped paddling and started laughing. Priceless.
PK

I had an experience in Carmel last year, when two huge dolphins were charging right towards my friend Jeff and I. He started freaking out, saying that they were too big to be dolphins. So, being the good friend I am.....I started paddling as frantically as possible and yelling "GO GO GO!!! Those are killer whales!!!" Should've seen the look on his face when I stopped paddling and started laughing. Priceless.
PK

 

You're a baaaaaad man 

-FF

I've been within a few kayaks lengths to a pod during a kayak trip in British Columbia. I was nervous as hell but I was the guide and played it cool for the clients who thought it was bordering on spiritual