Carmel Bay: Fisherman films close encounter with humpback whale

Monterey fisherman Lance Scott had a close encounter with a humpback whale three weeks ago while kayaking in Carmel Bay. He was only a half mile off shore.

Video:



Scott is a full-time fisherman in the Monterey Bay and he's no stranger to close encounters, but you can tell from the video he was pretty surprised.

Humpback whales have been close to shore in Carmel and Monterey because of all the anchovies close to shore, according to Barbara Block of the Hopkins Marine Station.

"We have a hot spot created by (underwater) points that then concentrate upwelling close to shore," she said, "and this leads to nutrient enrichment, plankton blooms. Anchovy feed on the plankton, the whales feed on the anchovy."

Do you have an interesting Monterey Bay video? Send it to me at pmolnar@montereyherald.com

Lance Scott and son Dylan, 10, with a 54-pound Halibut from the Monterey Bay