WHALE ANTICS AWE BOATIES
BOATIES off the North’s islands have been captivated by some of the first humpback whales of the migration season as the animals look to escape the bitter Antarctic cold.
Orpheus Island Lodge’s marine crew snapped a pod of three whales breaching in a bay off the island last week.
Further south off Magnetic Island, three fishermen filmed a spectacular full breach by a juvenile whale just 20m from their boat.
Fish’n N Fuel’n fishing and watersports store owner Dale Brooker said he and two friends were aboard the 6m Shy Tot off Cape Cleveland when they spotted a curious pod about 300m from their vessel.
“We turned the motor off just in case they came underneath us and we sat there for a while, and all of a sudden we saw them come up and blow but then they disappeared,” Mr Brooker said.
“We were facing the other way and thought they had gone past when we heard a loud noise and then the breach, which was really amazing because it was so quick.”
Mr Brooker said the splash and subsequent waves rocked the boat before the animals disappeared.
“It has been a quiet whale season so far,” he said.