Storms Hide a Whale of a Parade

Just beneath the storm-lashed seas, the “monster fish” have been slipping quietly, almost unnoticed, past our shores.

The annual migration of the Pacific gray whales has begun.

Since the beginning of migration in late December, scientists and volunteers have counted nearly twice the number of whales that generally make their way to Baja at this time of year, but few others have seen the great gray mammals moving along the coastline.

Storms have kept the usual whale watching boats off the waters, and skippers from around the Long Beach and San Pedro harbors are eager to get back to sea.

“We’ve had to cancel eight or nine trips since Jan. 1,” Victor Turner of the Belmont Pier and Sport Fishing last week. “With these storms, we haven’t been able to send one group out yet.”

Another local company, Star Party Cruises, found a window between storms on Jan. 11 and sent a tour out, company owner Robert Forster said.

“The migration is heavier than normal this year,” Forster said. “Our boat came really close to a mother and yearling when we were out there.”

This year ,the chances of seeing a whale leading its young have more than doubled. According to Dan Zambrano of the Cabrillo Marine Museum in San Pedro, official whale census-takers have counted about 175 whales passing between the coastline and Catalina Island. From 70 to 80 is the average for this early in the year, he said.

Several boat tour companies offer whale watching on storm-free days:

Belmont Pier and Sport Fishing offers tours seven days a week through the end of March on a 65-foot fishing boat, with tickets from $6.50 to $10. Information: (310) 434-6781.

Star Party Cruises of Seaport Village in Long Beach offers trips on a 75-foot boat twice a day through April 1, with tickets ranging from $10 to $13. Information: (310) 431-6833.

Catalina Cruises offers weekend tours twice daily through March 28 on 700-person ferries with tickets from $10 to $14. Information: (310) 436-5006.

Spirit Cruises’ sportfishing boats run daily from San Pedro and Shoreline Village through April 11, with tickets ranging from $8 to $15. Information: (310) 831-1073.

Long Beach Sport Fishing has two tours a day on fishing boats leaving Queen’s Wharf, Monday through Saturday until April 1, with tickets from $5 to $12. Information: (310) 432-8993.

Most tours last three hours, and every company offers group tickets and asks that reservations be made.