Blue Whales in Redondo Beach - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

mo2vation · 10-13-2010, 04:25 PM

Part 2 - the Way Back Home

After our time with the giants, we decided if Claudette was going to make it to work on time we better head back in. We were about a 70 or 80 minute paddle back to shore at this point.

On the way back in, we pass a Stand Up Paddler. There were many out on Friday, but none were as lucky as this person. She was screaming and hooting like she won the lotto! It was pretty neat.

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After the shots of the Stand Up Paddler, we continued to dig for home. We were now what I’d consider “on the inside” – we were about even with the first nav stick. I saw something in the water, and paddled over to it, and a very large juvenile whale literally came up under my boat.

I can’t believe this thing is this close to the shore while all his buddies are still another 20 or 25 minutes further out! He was totally “logging” – just hanging out on the surface. While I’m shooting, I don’t have my paddle in the water, so I get pushed around a bit – which is OK, as the whale totally adjusts so I’m never too close to it.

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Then an amazing thing happened. He dropped below the surface – he didn’t dive, he just dropped. A moment later he came back up in front of me again – heading towards shore! The same way we were heading. So I got some shots of his powerful back as he was heading in.

He took another breath as he made a turn – deciding better against joining Claudette on our way back into the harbor! As he turned I got a great look into his blow hole – amazing sounds as he breathes out and breathes in, surging through the water.

Just before he sounded and left us, he arched up high right next to my boat. It was amazing to see how the water behaved as it moved down his back. I could also see his small dorsal fin had been chewed by something – as the top half was missing.

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After this experience, we were pretty much breathless – and we still had another 30 or 40 minutes to get back to the harbor. We dug in and pushed back into the harbor at full speed. We jumped out of the boats, pulled them up onto the dock and ran to get the trucks (she was going to be late if we didn’t hurry…)

I re-lived this 3 hours over and over again all weekend. I’ve seen lots of whales from boats of all sizes – from the large Catalina Express boats to large live-aboards to smaller private boats. This is the first time I’ve ever paddled out to find them, and then paddled out even further to find the larger ones.

HUGE thanks to Claudette - your love of adventure, your respect for the sea and for these creatures is inspiring. You are fit, you are fun, you are fierce, you are one in a million.

More thanks to the BWE community. You guys inspire weekend paddlers like us to go out and get close to this stuff.

Many thanks!

-Ken

fishinkid2010 · 10-13-2010, 04:29 PM

Those pictures are incredible! I bet that must have been a blast getting as close as you did to those whales!

mo2vation · 10-13-2010, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishinkid2010

Those pictures are incredible! I bet that must have been a blast getting as close as you did to those whales!

It was nuts. They make the most amazing sounds.

We saw a couple of dozen that morning... they were thick.

Its weird taking your paddle out of the water, grabbing the camera and now seeing the world through the tiny viewfinder. I had to keep dropping the camera in my lap and re-adjusting the boat, as I'd drift off target.

This is when a Hobie Drive would have been excellent - at least I could keep the bow where I wanted it when my hands were on the cam.

The third shot in the mostah series above - in full rez its about 3400 pixels wide and its razor sharp. Shhh.... I'm gonna print it huge for her.

I'm not blowing smoke when I say you guys rule. Even though she doesn't fish, and I don't any more, if it wasn't for BWE keeping our heads in the game between paddles, we wouldn't get out as much as we do.

-K

lamb · 10-13-2010, 04:37 PM

Incredible pics indeed!

Thanks for sharing!

umoa · 10-13-2010, 04:39 PM

freaking epic pictures! What kind of camera do you use?

Do you feel like joining sea shepherd now...?

mo2vation · 10-13-2010, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by umoa

freaking epic pictures! What kind of camera do you use?

Do you feel like joining sea shepherd now...?

Scam Shepherd. Don't get me started on those guys. The Hump (the restaurant busted for serving whale months ago) is a block from my office in Santa Monica... I went to shoot the protest and these guys were there. Selling T-shirts with their van double parked. I could go on. Not a fan.

I use a pretty old rig, as far as DSLR's are concerned. Its a Nikon D200. The underwater housings I use are designed for this camera - so even though its about 5 or 6 years old (3 lifetimes in digital imaging) I have a few of them for all my UW shooting.

This was shot with a VR (vibration resistant) lens. A great lens for shooting from a moving platform, like a kayak.

Circular polarizer takes a lot of the glare off the water surface - lets me see a few feet into the water, more vivid colors, etc.

Thx buddy

-K

dmrides · 10-13-2010, 05:06 PM

What an awesome experience. Truly amazing that you had the presence of mind to take such amazing pictures with those guys around; I would have a hard time looking at them through a little view finder. Thanks for sharing.

scoop · 10-13-2010, 05:35 PM

Awesome, I liked all, but the 4th from last pic is outstanding for me.

10-13-2010, 04:25 PM	#1
mo2vation Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 50	The way back home Part 2 - the Way Back Home After our time with the giants, we decided if Claudette was going to make it to work on time we better head back in. We were about a 70 or 80 minute paddle back to shore at this point. On the way back in, we pass a Stand Up Paddler. There were many out on Friday, but none were as lucky as this person. She was screaming and hooting like she won the lotto! It was pretty neat. . . . After the shots of the Stand Up Paddler, we continued to dig for home. We were now what I’d consider “on the inside” – we were about even with the first nav stick. I saw something in the water, and paddled over to it, and a very large juvenile whale literally came up under my boat. I can’t believe this thing is this close to the shore while all his buddies are still another 20 or 25 minutes further out! He was totally “logging” – just hanging out on the surface. While I’m shooting, I don’t have my paddle in the water, so I get pushed around a bit – which is OK, as the whale totally adjusts so I’m never too close to it. . . . Then an amazing thing happened. He dropped below the surface – he didn’t dive, he just dropped. A moment later he came back up in front of me again – heading towards shore! The same way we were heading. So I got some shots of his powerful back as he was heading in. He took another breath as he made a turn – deciding better against joining Claudette on our way back into the harbor! As he turned I got a great look into his blow hole – amazing sounds as he breathes out and breathes in, surging through the water. Just before he sounded and left us, he arched up high right next to my boat. It was amazing to see how the water behaved as it moved down his back. I could also see his small dorsal fin had been chewed by something – as the top half was missing. . . . . . After this experience, we were pretty much breathless – and we still had another 30 or 40 minutes to get back to the harbor. We dug in and pushed back into the harbor at full speed. We jumped out of the boats, pulled them up onto the dock and ran to get the trucks (she was going to be late if we didn’t hurry…) I re-lived this 3 hours over and over again all weekend. I’ve seen lots of whales from boats of all sizes – from the large Catalina Express boats to large live-aboards to smaller private boats. This is the first time I’ve ever paddled out to find them, and then paddled out even further to find the larger ones. HUGE thanks to Claudette - your love of adventure, your respect for the sea and for these creatures is inspiring. You are fit, you are fun, you are fierce, you are one in a million. More thanks to the BWE community. You guys inspire weekend paddlers like us to go out and get close to this stuff. Many thanks! -Ken __________________ "man it stinks around here what is that smell, crap its me. I stink..." FishDude

10-13-2010, 04:29 PM	#2
fishinkid2010 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: La Mesa Posts: 386	Those pictures are incredible! I bet that must have been a blast getting as close as you did to those whales! __________________ Need a custom rod wrapped? PM me! http://s686.photobucket.com/albums/vv222/fishinkid2010/Sample%20Rod%20Wrapping/?albumview=slideshow

10-13-2010, 04:37 PM	#4
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	Incredible pics indeed! Thanks for sharing! __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

10-13-2010, 04:39 PM	#5
umoa Junior Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 18	freaking epic pictures! What kind of camera do you use? Do you feel like joining sea shepherd now...?

10-13-2010, 05:06 PM	#7
dmrides Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Point Loma Posts: 584	What an awesome experience. Truly amazing that you had the presence of mind to take such amazing pictures with those guys around; I would have a hard time looking at them through a little view finder. Thanks for sharing.

10-13-2010, 05:35 PM	#8
scoop Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 60	Awesome, I liked all, but the 4th from last pic is outstanding for me.