Killer Whales in the Gulf of Mexico

Alabama Orange Beach What started as a fishing trip turned into a sight-seeing adventure. Not a lot of fish were caught but what they did catch on video has everybody talking.

by Debbie Williams

Published: Fri, December 05, 2008 - 6:33 pm CST

About 60 miles south of Orange Beach, a fishing trip for tuna caught the unexpected instead. "I was like a five year old with the best present in the world on Christmas day when I saw the whales, it was like wow!"
Veteran charter boat captain Eddie Hall thought he'd seen just about everything. "Lot's of cool stuff everything from submarines to ships to every kind of shark you can think of, never a killer whale. Never ever thought about seeing a killer whale in my lifetime in the Gulf."
Hall says for a while they forgot they had a video camera on board. His first phone call after returning home was to his good friend, outdoors man Gary Finch. "For a sighting like this to happen for thirty minutes to an hour and get it on videotape is pretty extraordinary."
It has happened before. Biologist Keith Mullin says there have been 17 sightings of Orca's in the Gulf, but not like this. "Ten to 15 in a pod that's the most we've ever seen or really even gotten reports of."
Just to give you an idea how big some of these whales were, the back of the charter boat Shady Lady is 18 feet across. Some of the whales were that long and some, even longer.
A killer whale encounter in the Gulf of Mexico, it's something boat owner Shawn Clemons won't soon forget. "For them to come up, no hesitation. Basically we could have jumped off the boat onto their backs, it was breathtaking."
It's one fish tale they'll be talking about for years to come.
According to the National Marine Fishery Service there are at least 20 species of whales and dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico.
Before this sighting the population of killer whales in the Gulf was thought to be around 150.

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GulfAaron Says:

Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 1:26 pm

This is awesome. A superpod!! I’ve read about the convergence of pods in the pacific northwest, (probably the most studied population of orcas is the resident pods around Washington State’s San Juan Islands). Not a ton is known about the Gulf orcas. There are a couple decent videos on youtube, both from charter boat captains out of Port Aransas Texas. Here’s one from Captain Scott McCune from a few years ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sPWbFg2HWE

durkin Says:

Tue, Dec 09, 2008 at 7:52 pm

No, I love whales. Durkin.

rosepetal Says:

Mon, Dec 08, 2008 at 2:19 pm

i just read where their favorite food is king salmon. did not know they were actually dolphins. they are the largest of the dolphin family. i am just glad they paid us a visit. i do not think they will do any harm. they kill for food. i love dolphins, but hey its nature.

BamaBob Says:

Mon, Dec 08, 2008 at 1:02 pm

I would pay to see a killer whale running down the beach chasing a dolphin! I bet all the sharks would just sit back and watch too!

Tide Fan Says:

Mon, Dec 08, 2008 at 12:55 pm

Personally, I doubt us humans need to worry about being hunted and eaten by a killer whale…possible, but not very probable IMO…Id be more concerened for my safety driving to the grocery store. BUT the last thing a tourist town wants ( especially when the attraction is water and beach ) is killer whales chasing dolphin on the beachfront.

rosepetal Says:

Mon, Dec 08, 2008 at 12:47 pm

i found this article to be pretty interesting. a pod usually hunts as a group. i think sea lions is their food of choice. but after reading this i would not be standing to near a sand bar either.

http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/killerwhale/dietkw.html

BamaBob Says:

Mon, Dec 08, 2008 at 12:43 pm

From the report it sounds like they are common to the area, but not in such numbers. Maybe they had a population explosion!

southfan1981 Says:

Mon, Dec 08, 2008 at 12:32 pm

Ahhh Tide fan.. Good observation. I was wondering the same thing. Our interdependence with flora and fauna is incredible.

Tide Fan Says:

Mon, Dec 08, 2008 at 12:27 pm

I agree…it is pretty cool…BUT…We must ask ourselves why would they be here??? Obviously a food source….that being the Tuna…That means their normal food source was depleted where they normally live…for whatever reason. Whats gonna happen when thse guys show up chasing and eating bottle nosed dolphin off the beaches of Gulf Shores? I wish someone with experience with these whales would comment on this and offer some more insight.

BamaBob Says:

Mon, Dec 08, 2008 at 9:30 am

That had to be one heck of a sight! Just seeing dolphins go by is a big thrill. I can’t even imagine seeing something like those whales first hand.

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