That fin must be eight feet long. How big was the rest of the beast?

Did you see it? Definitely not a curious baby.

Could be it saw you at the last minute and that's an avoidance maneuver I guess.

Wow!

Eric will have to chime in (he had a better view!).. but the whale rolled to its side as it breached then went back under. The pic is the underside of the tail most likely..

Possibly a grey whale?

P.S.-You can see some similar images/ markings if you google whale tail. You will also see many images of some other "whale tail" that is prevalent here in San Diego :D

cool... see thats why lakes suck....shit like that just don't happen at miramar!

I have no idea how big this guy/girl was. When he came up he was on his side and I had a good close look at the white throat ribbings. Thats part of the reason I framed the photo the way I did because that is an 8 ft rod sticking up in my kayak and if you look at his wake on either side of me you can play the guessing game.

That's an amazing shot!

Found this image tagged as a Humpback Whale. Looks similar.

http://www.marineorganisms.info/imag...pbackwhale.jpg

:hahaha:

White throat ribbing's is a good clue along with the coloring of the fin itself. My guess is that it was a blue whale. I sent the photo to a friend who is a whale expert. We will see what she has to say.

Whatever kind of a whale it was, that was a once in a lifetime experience few of us will ever get a chance to enjoy. Whizz, maybe you need to change your nickname to Cpt. Ahab.

Bob

Awesome shot. I've seen them 40 yrds away and that was a little un nerving. I can't imagine that up close and personal.

Blue whale... incredibly cool.
I've had them come so close you could almost touch them off shore in my skiff.

Jim

seen them pretty close too in malibu. scary yet fascinating nonetheless. do know one guy that got bumped. at least with whales they're not going to come back for a nibble :D:D:D

wonder if megabaits work on whales :reel::reel::reel::biggrinjester::biggrinjester::b iggrinjester:

Wow, that's one "whale of a tale".......

or should I say "tail of a whale"..........

Jesus....the kayak mustve looked like a spec of kelp to the whale. Note to self, wear life jacket when kayaking.

That's a real close incounter of the sea kind.

There has been a ton of krill out there lately, so take care everyone, and keep your head and camera on a swivel. Awesome encounter Eric, and nice to meet you OTW the other day.

Whale Tales
 

Was out with Johnny Ceviche a couple yearsa ago and had a mother Gray and its calf come 10feet underneath us. Apparently the calf was curious and they hovered under Johnny for a short while. Then the baby bumps Johnny's yak and next thing he's sprint paddling away! Apparently mom started to surface under him after her calf got too friendly.

Great picture.

Jimm H.

Is Ceviche still fly fishing from the yak?

That conjures up old memories...always a fish on the yak...

whale
 

My vote is for Finback. I have seen them in LJ cruising the kelp, rubbing off parasites.

holy poop the pants
 

I had one come up to me that close by flat rock north of blacks, circled around me then followed for a bit, riding with its head out of water staring at me with a basketball sized eye. just about loaded the shorts on that one. would guess it was about 40' from head to tail.

Thats a great picture and a great story to tell over and over again/

KirkG.