Humpback Whales Hang Out Near Dana Point Harbor, Patches Returns

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — You can feel the excitement in the air, along with the misting spray from spouting humpback whales. On Tuesday, just outside Dana Point Harbor, a humpback whale greeted passengers and stuck around for a full day, according to a Dana Wharf Whale Watching spokesperson (see the full video below).

Though there are dolphins galore to see when you go whale watching, this time of year is officially Whale Watching season.

Local tour companies are preparing to celebrate Dana Point's 50th Anniversary of the Festival of Whales. This is the first year that Dana Point will also celebrate their latest victory of being named the first Whale Heritage Site in the United States.

READ: Dana Point Awarded Prestigious Whale Heritage Site

On Tuesday, the humpback whales came to say hello, according to Dana Wharf Whale Watching spokeswoman Dona Kalez. One whale came up to the surface, seeming to smile as it got a better view of passengers on the boat.

Guests leaned in to get a better look at its magnificent, bumpy skin, broad mouth, and spout casting a rainbow in the glinting February sun. Still, it was hard to say who was enjoying the sight of who more, the whale watchers or the whale, itself.

"It was like this Humpback Whale wanted to steal the show from the Gray Whales," Kalez tells Patch. "These Humpback Whales love one thing and that is fish."

On Tuesday, this whale was feasting on anchovies.

"This happy Humpback was feeding on the tiny baitfish, the whale was also greeting passengers that were eagerly awaiting him or her as it was swimming between boats," she says. "The whale would come straight out of the water! This encounter brought many passengers to tears."

This was a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, according to Captain Steve Burkhalter, a veteran Whale Watching captain with dana wharf Whale Watching in both Hawaii and now in Dana Point.

See also: Watch 2 Baby Gray Whales, Moms Frolic Off Dana Point

"This was an amazing day to be a whale watcher in Dana Point," Burkhalter said.

The video was taken in a compilation by Dana Wharf passengers, naturalists, and crew members.

We would be remiss if we didn't mention Patches the Bottlenose Dolphin who is easily identifiable by the markings on its skin.

For more information on local whale watching tours, visit www.danawharf.com or dolphinsafari.com,

Have you gone whale watching this year? Let us know your favorite part of seeing these magnificent creatures up close and personal, in the comments!