It’s That Time to Watch the Whales Swim By

Now is the time to see whales.

Or, from the whale’s point of view, now is the time to see humans.

By the hundreds, the latter abandon their usual land habitat to get on boats and chug over to the whales’ freeway off the Southern California coast.

Many obligingly lean over railings and point. Others aim strange, clicking contraptions with lenses. Some come in pairs. Many bring their young.

Scientific-minded whales, if there are any, must speculate about the humans’ strange seasonal behavior: Is it somehow related to mating instincts or child-rearing habits?

Whatever the point of view, the largest mammals will meet the brainiest between now and April as thousands of gray whales pass by on their 12,000-mile round-trip migration from the Bering Sea off Alaska to the lagoons of Baja California. That is where they mate and bear their young.

The giant swimmers--which can reach 50 feet in length and weigh 50 tons--spout, lunge out of the water and flash their tail flukes as they plunge back into the sea.

Three-Hour Trips

The humans come out of Long Beach, San Pedro and Redondo Beach on two- to three-hour whale-watching boat trips. Besides whales, they are likely to encounter schools of dolphins, various sea birds and even sea lions.

Jim Peterson, who runs the Sport King out of San Pedro, said whale watching has been pretty steady for the last few weeks, before the rains. “The migration is in full swing,” he said.

Peterson said the most common thrill occurs when whales take a deep breath, arch their backs and “sound”--dive for as long as 40 minutes, although 10 to 15 minutes is normal.

“People really get excited when they lift their tails out of the water,” he said.

If you want to go whale-watching, you can go to Long Beach, San Pedro or Redondo Beach.

In Long Beach, there are three operators:

Catalina Cruises, Catalina Landing, 312 Golden Shore Drive, Long Beach Harbor. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; occasional 11 a.m. weekday cruises; $11 adults, $10 seniors 55 and older, $9 children ages 5 through 11, $2 children under 5. Reservations, 514-3838, 775-6111.

Belmont Pier Sport Fishing, Ocean Boulevard and 39th Place; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Monday through Friday, 10 a.m., if sufficient reservations are made; call 434-6781; weekends, $9, adults, $7, children 12 and younger; weekdays, $7, adults, $5, children.

Long Beach Sportsfishing, Queen’s Wharf Landing, 555 Pico Ave., Berth 55, Long Beach Harbor; Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; $9 adults, $6.50 juniors 15 and younger and seniors 55 and older. Reservations, 432-8993.

In the South Bay, Ports O’Call Village, along the main channel of Los Angeles Harbor near Harbor Boulevard and 6th Street in San Pedro, has several boat operators:

Los Angeles Harbor Sports Fishing, Berth 79. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; $10 adults, $7 children 12 and younger; weekend early-bird special, 9 a.m., $5. Reservations, 547-9916.

Spirit Adventures, Berth 75. Daily Monday through Friday, twice-daily Saturday and Sunday. Call 831-1073 for times; $12.50, $10 weekdays with advance reservations.

Los Angeles Harbor Cruises, Village Boat House, Berth 77. Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; $12 adults, $5 children 2 through 12, under 2 free; information, 831-0996.

Buccaneer-Mardi Gras Cruises, Berth 76. Saturday and Sunday 12:30 p.m. champagne brunch on Buccaneer Queen, replica of 18th-Century pirate ship; $24, including meal and cruise. Reservations, 548-1085.

Pilgrim, replica of American Revolutionary War ship, Berth 76. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; $12 adults, $6 children 12 and younger; reservations, 547-0941.

Also in San Pedro is Skipper’s 22nd Street Landing, 141 W. 22nd St., San Pedro. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; weekdays, $10 adults; $7 children 12 and younger and seniors 62 and older; weekends, $11 adults, $8 children and seniors; reservations, 832-8304.