Sperm Whales Put on Rare Show off California Coast

Largest group of the whales so close to shore in decades.

ByABC News
October 7, 2014, 9:42 PM
This Monday, Oct. 6, 2014 photo provided by Lasanthi Benedict shows a sperm whale breaching in the waters off the the coast of Newport Beach, Calif. Several pods of sperm whales emerged off the Southern California coast in an extremely rare, hours-long sighting that had whale watchers and scientists giddy with excitement. More than 50 mothers and juveniles were rolling and playing with dolphins.
This Monday, Oct. 6, 2014 photo provided by Lasanthi Benedict shows a sperm whale breaching in the waters off the the coast of Newport Beach, Calif. Several pods of sperm whales emerged off the Southern California coast in an extremely rare, hours-long sighting that had whale watchers and scientists giddy with excitement. More than 50 mothers and juveniles were rolling and playing with dolphins.
Lasanthi Benedict/AP Photo

— -- More than 50 mother and juvenile sperm whales rolled and played with dolphins Monday a few miles off Laguna Beach, California, in what veteran whale watchers said today was the largest group so close to shore in decades.

They later were spotted off San Diego and were heading south, Jay Barlow, a sperm whale expert with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told The Associated Press.

"I've been counting whales and been on the water for 35 years. We've never had a large group like this ever," said Alisa Schulman-Janiger, director of the ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project.

PHOTO: This Monday, Oct. 6, 2014 aerial photo provided by Capt. Dave Anderson/ DolphinSafari.com, shows sperm whales swimming in the waters off the the coast of Dana Point, Calif.
This Monday, Oct. 6, 2014 aerial photo provided by Capt. Dave Anderson/ DolphinSafari.com, shows sperm whales swimming in the waters off the the coast of Dana Point, Calif. Several pods of sperm whales emerged off the Southern California coast in an extremely rare, hours-long sighting that had whale watchers and scientists giddy with excitement. More than 50 mothers and juveniles were rolling and playing with dolphins.

David Anderson, who operates Captain Dave's Dolphin and Whale Safari sightseeing tours, said some of the whales came within inches of boats when they brought their heads out of the water. The group was spread out across up to three square miles, he said.

Sperm whales weigh up to 45 tons and eat about a ton of squid a day. They prefer to hunt in deep waters and can dive to 3,000 feet.

PHOTO: This Monday, Oct. 6, 2014 photo provided by Capt. Dave Anderson/DolphinSafari.com, shows sperm whales swimming in the waters off the the coast of Dana Point, Calif.
This Monday, Oct. 6, 2014 photo provided by Capt. Dave Anderson/DolphinSafari.com, shows sperm whales swimming in the waters off the the coast of Dana Point, Calif.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.