Humpback Whale Knocks Into Kayakers Near Avila Beach
By edhat staff
A video captured off the coast of Avila Beach shows two kayakers nearly getting swallowed by a humpback whale.
Two women were kayaking and noticed a group of feeding humpback whales. One woman noticed a bait ball, small fish swarming in a small circle, next to their kayak.
Suddenly a whale, following the fish, opened its entire mouth to catch the fish and ended up grabbing the kayak as well. The whale opened its mouth and released them leaving both women unharmed.
Apparently, it's impossible for a humpback whale to swallow a human due to their narrow throats, but the strength of their jaws could have caused fatal injuries.
Researchers are trying to identify the whale to monitor it and see if it is okay.
The central California population of Humpback Whales migrates from their winter calving and mating areas off Mexico to their summer and fall feeding areas off coastal California. Humpback Whales occur in the Monterey Bay area and central coast from late April to early December.
15 Comments
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Nov 04, 2020 10:56 AMThat's absolutely awesome. Knowing they're OK, I laughed my butt off though. What an experience!
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Nov 04, 2020 11:42 AMBoaters, kayakers, paddle boarders have to maintain respectful distance. If not, it could be considered marine life harassment.
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Nov 04, 2020 12:01 PMHammonds - looks like the bait ball came to them, then the whale did what whales do. They weren't trying to get on top of it.
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Nov 04, 2020 01:21 PMHammonds, are you joking? How do you propose kayakers keep a distance from a whale swimming at speed underwater? This must be a joke. I am laughing after all.
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Nov 06, 2020 11:36 AMoh ok, so you just act like you dont know there are mammals and marine life in the ocean. and just do what you want with no care that they are there? you keep distance from marine animals, and if there is a large bait ball. you KNOW ( if you are smart enough ) that something large is feeding on them, causing them to be IN THE BAIT BALL FORMATION. so yes, I also "propose" keeping safe distance from wildlife, if you are unaware of the dangers they can present. and im NOT laughing.
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Nov 04, 2020 01:04 PMNever let go of her phone though. Humans - some day we will be born with one.
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Nov 04, 2020 01:19 PMSBZZ - it was clearly on a lanyard in a waterproof pouch. Why the need to disparage her?
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Nov 04, 2020 01:44 PMThat is incredible! What great video. Especially the video of the gals on the kayak. You can see the little fish the whale was after swimming all around and trying to get away. Everyone got lucky that day!
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Nov 04, 2020 01:58 PMHope the whale is okay. Headline should read "Kayakers haplessly hobbling hungry Humpback."
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Nov 04, 2020 03:04 PM60,000 pound whale versus 60 pound kayak. I'm sure the whale is just fine.
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Nov 04, 2020 02:54 PMNo, Hammond's right. If you spent enough time out in the ocean you learn these things. Forget "harassment" just if nothing else you have to consider your own safety. The LAST thing you want is the have a giant animal come up right under you. But most people, this person obviously, have no clue. It's dangerous to circle in close to feeding whales around a bait ball. If the bait ball comes towards you, you get the hell outta the way. It's not hard. And you can see a number of SUP's, small boats etc circling in tight to take a real close look, and oh yeah let's get the epic Instagram photo and look like heroes. All looks great until you get plowed. It's good no one got badly hurt, but you gotta respect the ocean.
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Nov 06, 2020 11:34 AManother +1 for hammond. he is correct and so is Basicinfo. You notice if there is a bait ball.
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Nov 06, 2020 11:58 AMPSTARSR and Basic and Hammond - watch the video starting at :30. There is no bait ball until 1-2 seconds before the whale breaches. They're sitting there looking at the birds, then at :38 the bait hits the surface, followed at :40 by the whale. I've kayaked a lot and I can tell you, it is impossible to move away from a bait ball in 2 seconds. You must be the fastest kayakers in the world though, so I can see where you might expect more out the rest of us.
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Nov 04, 2020 04:06 PMI don't see anything in the article that indicates they approached the whales deliberately. Just that they noticed them, then noticed the bait ball between their kayaks. Then, boom!
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Nov 06, 2020 11:31 AMtip, if you see splashing, and small fish in a BIG massive ball.........DONT park yer boat in it. move away from it. thats the bait ball...... AKA what they eat.