Get a Room Already Gray Whales Mate

Gray Whale mate

Gray Whales Mate for hours in Southern California

A pair of mating whales put on an unusual show for spectators along the coast in Dana Point and Laguna Beach on Sunday afternoon, mating all day while oblivious to nearby gawkers out enjoying the picture-perfect beach day.

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Charter boats and paddleboarders witness rare behavior and close interaction virtually all day

A pair of mating whales put on an unusual show for spectators along the coast in Dana Point and Laguna Beach on Sunday afternoon, mating all day while oblivious to nearby gawkers out enjoying the picture-perfect beach day.

Tom Southern, a captain on Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Safari for 13 years, said he’s never seen a show like the one put on by a pair of whales on Saint Patrick’s Day.

He first saw the pair making their way up the coast during his morning charter at about 10:30 a.m., but at that time they didn’t show any usual behavior – just the typical cruising along the coastline toward Alaska after spending months off Baja California mating and giving birth.

But it was on the second charter of the day, in the afternoon, that he saw a powerboat and sailboat near the two whales that were still hanging around Dana Point.

“They were rolling on their sides, spinning in circles, and then they’d go down for a few minutes – obvious mating behaviors,” Southern said.

Then, in really rare behavior, the whales started approaching the boats and going under them, rubbing up against the vessels and even moving one of the boats.

“We saw some mating, then they went right over to the sailboat and parked themselves under it, pushing it in the water,” Southern said. “Not harsh, but very gently playing and rolling on their sides. They kept doing it for more than an hour.”

More boats surrounded the whales, but the whales didn’t seem to mind giving the audience a real-time National Geographic show, continuing with their mating and getting right up next to the vessels.

“It was just unbelievable. I thought, ‘It’s not going to get better than this’,” he said.

When Southern picked up his third charter trip for the day in the late afternoon, he headed up to north Laguna Beach, right off of Main Beach, to see the whales still at it. A group of paddleboarders were up close watching, as were those in other boats. The whales again went under Capt. Dave’s charter boat, circling around the bow.

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