posted 07-14-2011 12:47 PM ET (US)        

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Yesterday two buddies and I ventured about 12 miles West of Half Moon Bay to get a piece of the hot salmon bite which was hot indeed. We hooked 7 undersized fish with and zero keepers.

The highlight of the trip, which was nothing less than terrifying, was a when we were trolling around a school of giant Blue Whales and one swam right under my boat, went right though my downrigger lines, and surfaced 5-10 feet behind the boat. Me and my crew froze in amazement (and fear) as the largest animal I had ever seen passed right below us. It must have been 10 feet wide and over 80 feet long! It made my 21 footer look real small and thank God she didn't flip us over! What an experience that was...we could have literally jumped from the swim step of the boat onto the back of this whale. I still can't believe it didn't hit our boat or tangle in my downrigger wire...man that was close. Funny thing for us was that either the fish were too small or WAY too big, nothing we could take home other than one heck of a memory.

posted 07-14-2011 02:57 PM ET (US)            

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I had a similar experience with Blues several years ago. We get used to Grays out here, but Blue Whales--supposedly the largest creatures which have ever lived on earth--are truly unbelievable up close, especially if one is next to one in a little skiff.

Here's a link to an earlier CW article with a couple of photos of a Blue which washed ashore north of Bodega Bay a couple of years ago. The shots, with humans standing next to and on the huge creature, put its immense size in scale.

http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/018710.html

Tony

posted 07-15-2011 01:10 AM ET (US)            

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What an awesome thing... in the strictest sense of the word. Was it like, very obviously blue? Or did it look more black, like humpbacks?

They say the Santa Barbara Channel here is one of the blue whale migration routes. I hope I get to see one one day... and live to tell about it.

-Peter

posted 07-15-2011 11:27 AM ET (US)            

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Blacksmithdog, yes, I was very close to soiling myself :) The more I think about it the more remarkable the experience has become for me. Very few people get to see such a spectacle. Also, another thing I can stop thinking about is how fortunate we were that the whale didn't breach and land on top of us or just push the boat over. Earlier we saw other whales coming way out of the water which would not be good if we were too close. Nevertheless, we are still alive and I feel that our whale knew we were there and had a very gentle demeanor toward us...maybe some kind of mammalian mutual respect. I know I have a new level of respect.

Waterwonderland, I would LOVE a bigger boat...know anyone with a conquest 345 they'll let go for around $50K, lol?

Peter, I have to say they looked more black than blue, but it was also overcast and the water was a bit murky. I've seen many grays, but these guys dwarfed em. I hope you get a chance to see them someday as well. They have been around here feeding on krill for the last couple of months so if you can get up this way you're more than welcome on my boat!

posted 07-15-2011 12:38 PM ET (US)            

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My friends and I were out on Sunday, saw the same Whaler show as well as a surprise Thresher siting, who was chomping on a Salmon. What a day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHfeHoP2lzI