|
01-08-2017, 11:22 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
City: Bellingham, WA
Vessel Name: Excellent Adventure
Vessel Model: 1995 Jefferson Ker Shine 45
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 395
|
Puget Sound question - whale watching
Being new to the area I was wondering if anyone knew what VHF channel the whale watching boats use? They obviously talk to each other and we would like to listen in and maybe share info with them.
When we were in St Thomas all the commercial tourists boats shared info so the customers got a good experience, I assume others do the same.
Thanks
Bill
|
|
|
01-08-2017, 11:36 PM
|
#2
|
Guru
City: Port Townsend Washington
Vessel Name: " OTTER "
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander Europa 40
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,378
|
if you know the names of the boats you can glean some info on the VTS channels, most operators use cell phones to be more discreet.. and to lessen the recreational boats on the whales.
Sorry to be of little help.
HOLLYWOOD
|
|
|
01-08-2017, 11:47 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
City: Bellingham, WA
Vessel Name: Excellent Adventure
Vessel Model: 1995 Jefferson Ker Shine 45
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 395
|
I kinda figured they were using cell phones since I could not find them on scan. I guess I need to find some of the Captains and buy some beer.
|
|
|
01-09-2017, 12:55 AM
|
#4
|
Guru
City: Port Ludlow
Vessel Name: Fiddler
Vessel Model: DeFever 46
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 703
|
Puget Sound question - whale watching
The Orca Network has a Facebook page with many followers that post recent sightings. I use this when whale watching and can usually find them. They get reports for all the various types of whales in Puget Sound.
https://www.facebook.com/OrcaNetwork/
|
|
|
01-09-2017, 08:11 AM
|
#5
|
Guru
City: San Diego
Vessel Model: Helmsman 4304
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 2,005
|
Same deal down here. The local captains must talk on their cells. Its a good thing, because there are a lot of boats that would encroach in the summer. We saw a couple 2 weeks ago, including some broachers, and tail slapping.
|
|
|
01-09-2017, 09:26 AM
|
#6
|
Guru
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,743
|
We should leave the whales alone.
I think to a significant degree we are loving them to death.
Best to consider them a navigational hazzard .. they are.
And to not patronize the whale watching business.
__________________
Eric
North Western Washington State USA
|
|
|
01-09-2017, 09:45 AM
|
#7
|
Guru
City: Carefree, Arizona
Vessel Name: sunchaser V
Vessel Model: DeFever 48 (sold)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,186
|
Spot on Eric. But, too many tourist dollars to be chased for this business to die away. A few years ago we were in Hawaii and went on an interesting whale watching trip. The boat we were on went to their favorite spot and turned their engines off and waited. No whales anywhere. After about 15 minutes the whales were cavorting all around us showing off the new borns. Or as the cruise captain said, allowing the mothers to point out to their young what to avoid when the boats are moving.
Sure enough, when we fired up the engines the humpbacks departed. In BC and AK the best whale watching for us is to motor along and watch carefully, sooner or later some great sea life looks appear. The porpoise stampede near Robson Bight is a classic. Hundreds of those guys chasing us, truly amazing as they fight for position along the hull's pressure waves.
|
|
|
01-09-2017, 09:47 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
City: Seattle, WA
Vessel Name: Akeeva
Vessel Model: Nordhavn 50
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 449
|
They're pretty easy to find with AIS. Go on Marine Traffic and look for a cluster of very slow moving passenger vessels. Some names to look for are Glacier Spirit, Red Head, and Island Explorer.
|
|
|
01-09-2017, 10:27 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
City: Bellingham, WA
Vessel Name: Excellent Adventure
Vessel Model: 1995 Jefferson Ker Shine 45
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 395
|
Thanks all.
|
|
|
01-09-2017, 12:44 PM
|
#10
|
Guru
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,288
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by wwestman
Being new to the area I was wondering if anyone knew what VHF channel the whale watching boats use? They obviously talk to each other and we would like to listen in and maybe share info with them.
When we were in St Thomas all the commercial tourists boats shared info so the customers got a good experience, I assume others do the same.
Thanks
Bill
|
If you are new to the area and not already aware of the legal limitations on whale watching or just encountering wales best you look it up. Big fines.
|
|
|
03-05-2017, 04:56 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
City: Snohomish, WA
Vessel Name: NautiBeaver
Vessel Model: Nordlund 68'
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 173
|
Whale boats just showed up last week, first trip was 3/5. Heard of one grey spotted out of Everett. Give it a few more weeks and just look for cluster of boats around hat island. Pretty easy to find the whales. Make sure to stay far off, No reason to get close, especially with greys (most of what you will see). As you just see glimpses but you can be in them for hours.
|
|
|
03-06-2017, 11:54 AM
|
#12
|
Dauntless Award
City: Wrangell, Alaska
Vessel Name: Dauntless
Vessel Model: Kadey Krogen 42 - 148
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,820
|
I heard the Japanese have some good tours.
|
|
|
03-06-2017, 05:34 PM
|
#13
|
Guru
City: Bellingham WA
Vessel Name: Hatt Trick
Vessel Model: 45' Hatteras Convertible
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,973
|
Wwestman...... As a generalization for seeing Orcas in the San Juans, Haro Strait along the west side of San Juan Island has quite a bit of whale movement, as does Boundary Pass, from Turn Point to the East Point lighthouse on Saturna Island. Neither are sure things, of course. As mentioned above, be sure to check the regs and don't get too close to them. They are followed and hounded by the commercial whale watching boats all summer. It can't be good for them.
|
|
|
03-07-2017, 03:54 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
City: Edmonds
Vessel Name: Miss Maui
Vessel Model: Bayliner 4788
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 237
|
We were coming home from Port Townsend to Edmonds and just as we passed the Point No Point lighthouse a big grey surfaced fifteen feet off my port side. I could have tossed him a sandwich if I'd had one. Beautiful moment.
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Trawler Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|