A salmon fisherman might not have caught many fish on Saturday in California’s Monterey Bay, but it was still his lucky day.
Lucky because he was able to witness a spectacular humpback whale breach only 15 yards from the stern of his small boat. Lucky, also, because the 40-ton mammal fell backward upon splashdown and did not smash or capsize his vessel.
The remarkable images accompanying this post were captured by Christina De La Fuente Hernandez from aboard the 60-foot Blue Ocean Whale Watch vessel, High Spirits. (The dramatic event also was captured on video, posted below.)
De La Fuente Hernandez and other passengers were watching five humpback whales from a safe distance while salmon fishermen trolled in the vicinity.
She told FTW Outdoors that the fisherman she photographed did not seem to flinch despite the proximity of the breaching whale to his boat.
“I couldn’t see his reaction, but judging by his body language he wasn’t startled or anything,” the photographer said.
In awe, perhaps, or frozen in fear?
Humpback whales, which can measure 50-plus feet, are famous for breaching and other surface behaviors. Thankfully, they seem to be keenly aware of their surroundings and accidents are few and far between.
De La Fuente Hernandez said her group also saw gray whales and transient killer whales, which hang out in the bay each spring hoping to prey on gray whale calves migrating north with their mothers.
–Images are courtesy of ©Christina De La Fuente Hernandez
