Recaps Of Our Recent Whale Watching Kayak Tours

We've been seeing gray whales galore on our whale watching kayak tours for the past few weeks! So far this season up until today, 1,005 gray whales have been sighted off the coast of Southern California. This is 990 southbound whales, including approximately 39 calves, and 15 northbound whales already.

This past Saturday marked one of the most exciting whale watching kayak tours at Hike Bike Kayak. We counted numerous whales, with spouting, breaching, and spy hopping in the mix!

Breaching is a common behavior but we don't really know why one gray whale breaches at a particular time. There are a few hypothesis regarding a breach...It can be used as a method for stunning prey. Also, to communicate ("Here I am!"), power demonstration, or perhaps playfulness. Due to gray whales having so much whale lice (3 different species) they can get extremely itchy, so they might breach to dislodge some of those pesky creatures on their backs. Some gray whales stop along their migration to rub on sandy substrates, like off of Zuma beach, CA...which can help rid them of their lice. Sadly, some may breach to try and free themselves from fishing net entanglements. Humpback whales have been seen breaching multiple times in a row after freeing themselves from a net, most likely to test their bodies to make sure they are free, and also for the sheer relief of it.

Here is a close-up video of a breach one year ago today, off the coast here in San Diego!

Imagine being in a kayak and recording this great footage on your go pro or other camera!!

The Gray Whales are Heading to La Jolla

  This is the time of year at Hike Bike Kayak when we get really amped up in anticipating the gray whale migration through La Jolla. According to the gray whale census, record increases of whale sightings have been documented these past few years. Volunteers of the American Cetacean Society perch along the coastline of Southern California to count whales southbound and northbound, this helps to give us a good idea of our upcoming whale watching season. 2013-2014 whale watching season at Hike Bike Kayak, was the best one yet, with more females and juvenile gray whales spotted than previous years. Our Whale Watching Kayak Tour is the best way to see these gentle giants up close and personal in their natural habitat.

December 1st begins the Cetacean Society's watch. 2013-2014 Season:

Southbound ------------------- 1214
Northbound ------------------- 1741
Total ------------------------ 2955
Calves South ------------------- 14
Calves North ------------------ 286

This gives us an idea of the large numbers to expect for the 2014-2015 season!

The gray whale migration route from Alaska to Baja, California and back again:

On our next post: speculation and facts on how they are able to find their way!

Check Kayak Whale Watching Off Your Bucket List!

At Hike Bike Kayak, we make it easy for you to scratch a few incredible feats off your bucket list! Snorkeling with leopard sharks, paddle-boarding among dolphin, and of course, kayaking with gray whales!

Millions of people create a list of experiences they want to achieve before "kicking the bucket". One of the most common on the list is kayaking with whales, and rightly so. This experience is one not to be missed! Here at Hike Bike Kayak, we can make it happen for you. We track the gray whales migration daily and we keep a standing count of whales we've seen in the water. Peak Season is January-February, but each year more and more whales are making the trek, due to breeding each winter in Baja, Ca. Whale watching kayak season ends in just a few weeks! We want everyone to have the chance to see these whales up close!

Like us on Facebook to catch our Bucket List Deal! $25 Off your Whale Watching Kayak tour! 

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Sweetheart Special!!

 

 

Hike Bike Kayak has a sweet deal going on for Valentine's Day!!

 

All you sweethearts, save $55 on our Tandem Kayak Whale Watching Tour! Save $35 on our Tandem Sunset Kayak Tour! More Details Here!

 

 

 

 

Gray Whale Close Encounter!

At Hike Bike Kayak, we love that our customers have a memorable experience that connects them to the ocean ecosystems of our beautiful waters here in La Jolla. It is also extremely special that they get to witness marine animals in their natural habitats. Sea lions, dolphins, leopard sharks, to name a few, are abundant and have certainly captivated our customers with their unique behaviors and close encounters.

Speaking of close encounters, this gray whale swam just below our whale watching kayak fleet, and with help from our outrigging friend, Doug Hogan, we caught a photo of the migrating giant. 

Despite their huge size, gray whales can swim up to 10 kilometers per hour. So with go-pro camera in hand and with a quick drop into the water below, this picture was possible.

Whale Watching Kayak Tour-Photo Courtesy of Doug Hogan 2014

"Outstanding whale watching paddle with David. It was so enjoyable to go with a guide who was having as much fun as we were and was so knowledgeable. He knew right where to take us to maximize our chances of seeing whales and we did - up close and personal. Couldn't have been any better!" -A customer from Whitehall, Montana

Our Whale Watching Kayak Tour is definitely something you don't want to miss.Gray Whale migration through these waters typically dies down the end of March, and so do these fantastic kayaking tours.

Spyhopping; the coolest of all the cool Gray Whale behaviors!

Spyhopping

...just one of the Gray Whale surface behaviors you can see from Hike Bike Kayak's Whale Watching Kayak tours. Spyhopping is when a whale treads water to view its surroundings. The Gray Whale will thrust itself vertically above the ocean's surface and use a steady motion of its pectoral fins to maintain an elevated position. This upright position is controlled and slow, and can last from just seconds to minutes at a time if the whale is sufficiently inquisitive about whatever (or whomever) it is viewing. This behavior also allows them to pinpoint known landmarks that help them stay on course. Whether it be a familiar lighthouse on a cliff, or recalled coastal boating docks, the Gray Whale will identify such places to navigate from Alaska to Baja and back, their twelve-thousand mile round trip migration. Here at Hike Bike Kayak, Spyhopping is our favorite Gray Whale behavior because of this very reason. If witnessing a spyhop on our Whale Watching Kayak Tour, you must note that the whale is just as interested as watching you, as you are in watching it!

"Alright, take the pic, take the pic...I've got people to watch and places to see"

                                                                 

A double spyhop just off our local coast!!