A boating adventure on the Santa Barbara Channel can turn into an event that leaves a person with lifelong and nearly sacred memories. Here is one I recall.
We were cruising westward at 25 knots between the west end of Santa Cruz Island and the northeastern point of Santa Rosa Island. A hundred yards off our starboard bow, an adult humpback whale breached with sufficient force to resemble a major detonation of explosives.
As the whale leaned over and came down with a thunderous splash, it closed its mouth to trap the reason for such radical behavior.
The deep water of the Santa Barbara Channel comes up to relatively shallow water there between the islands, and a pod of humpies had driven a huge school of sardines up to the shallows where the whales could work as a team to keep the forage food corralled into a tight baitball a half-acre across.
We slowed to watch the precise savagery of the natural food chain, from a respectable and safe distance. After all, no sense ruining the dinner of a critter that outweighs us by several dozen tons.
One of my passengers requested permission to jump in the water so he could film the spectacle. The cautious captain in me declined his request. I told him this major feeding activity was likely to attract some of the larger sharks in the area.
I reminded him he is at the very top of the food chain as long as he stays aboard the boat. At that thought, everyone furtively peered at the water around the boat, looking for that familiar phantom shape of a shark.
The next whale to breach took our minds off sharks entirely. This smaller whale leapt nearly out of the water with sheer exuberance of youth. My passengers were cheering wildly.
We watched for a half-hour as the whales methodically balled-up the bait and took turns making feeding passed through the baitball with mouths wide open.
As they lunged partway out of the water and closed their mouths to strain out the water and keep the fish, I estimated that with each mouthful a whale caught more baitfish than I use in a month of busy summertime fishing.
It takes a lot of groceries to fill up a hungry humpy.
Over these next few months, we have our most fascinating whale-watching opportunities of the year as humpbacks, blues and other whales join the thousands of dolphin in the Santa Barbara Channel to put on a whale of a show for us.
Plan your excursions early and bring the whole family. There are a number of whalewatching boats, like the Condor Express and private charter services operating out of Santa Barbara.
— Capt. David Bacon operates WaveWalker Charters and is president of SOFTIN Inc., a nonprofit organization providing seafaring opportunities for those in need. Visit softininc.blogspot.com to learn more about the organization and how you can help. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
