Fin Whale Mamas, Babies Favor Dana Point Ahead Of Mother's Day

DANA POINT, CA — This weekend, Dana Point proved why it is the dolphin and whale capital of the world. Whale watchers who set out on an 8-hour w got their money's worth on Sunday when setting out for a day of whale watching adventure.

"We started the day with three onshore bottlenose dolphins before we even left the harbor," Dana Wharf Whale Watching naturalist Laura Lopez. Those dolphins were joined by six to eight more as the vessel exited the harbor for open water.

Spring is an ideal time to see the mothers and babies as they make their annual journey.

"For about an hour, we watched a gray whale cow and calf pair very close to shore," Lopez says.

During their play, the whale mom and calf indulged the audience with "spy-hopping, rolling and half breaches," she said.

Still, it was the fin whales that stole the show.

"Just a few miles offshore, we watched four fin whales feeding, rolling and socializing.

"We headed out further offshore and found a pod of40 to 50 offshore bottlenose dolphin and their calves, who were very active," she says. While out, they also witnessed two large Sunfish, or Mola Mola, soaking up the California sunshine.

The same four Fin whales were resting and hanging out near the surface as Captain Todd Mansur guided his vessel back to the wharf.

There to greet them was a favorite bird-mascot of the dock: Henry the Masked Booby.

According to Lopez, "it doesn't get much better than this."

Learn more about whale watching in Dana Point at www.DanaWharf.com