Let’s Go Fishin’: Big animals make a big impression in the bay

While fishing in the Monterey Bay tends to be my main focus in this column, I have to give respect to the amazing marine mammals in the outer waters, as well.
I have been filling in as captain for the Stagnaro family aboard their boat, Velocity. The days are filled with fishing trips in the morning and whale-watching trips after that. The most recent trip I had the pleasure of skippering provided limits of rockfish in the morning, followed by a fantastic afternoon of whale watching.
With my heavy background in fishing, most people are surprised when they hear the excitement I exude while talking about whale trips. How could I not love to see these amazing animals in our bay? Whales are 40 to 100 feet long and have been on the planet more than 10 million years. Gray whales move through the bay during the winter and spring months, followed by migrating pods of orcas. Humpback whales show up in late spring and stay in the bay through the fall season. Blue whales reaching 100 feet have also been sighted on a regular basis.
The latest trip I had the pleasure of taking provided excellent weather and more than 12 humpback whales sighted and a large pod of Risso’s dolphins — not to mention the regular inshore marine mammals. The humpbacks are feeding on krill along the canyon edges, and they were breaching clear out of the water and lunge-feeding. It’s quite amazing when the whales surge up and lunge-feed on the surface krill. They come up out of the water, mouths open, with shrimp flying everywhere.
“We are seeing humpbacks and blue whales in the same area feeding at the same time,” Ken Stagnaro reported.
As amazing as the whale trips have been this year, Stagnaro added, “It is common to see this many humpback whales in the bay during the summer months.”
Locals and tourists are now realizing how great whale watching is during the summer out of Santa Cruz or Monterey.
Fishing also remains very good for coastal fish. Rock cod fishing has produced consistent limits, and halibut are common. Salmon are steady but limited to about one or two fish per boat. Albacore continue to be tough to catch due to rough weather and wind offshore.
But if you enjoy fishing or the Monterey Bay, you will love to see the whales.
Mike Baxter has fished in the Monterey Bay Area since he was a boy and has been a licensed charter boat captain for more than 15 years. Contact him at [email protected]. He also hosts a fishing show on radio station KSCO (1080) from 7:06 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, April through September.