Gray Whale Season Drawing to Close

Long Beach residents who are looking to get a glimpse of a gray whale in the South Bay don't have much time left—gray-whale watching season is peaking as the massive sea mammals wrap up their journey to Alaska.

On Wednesday, the American Cetacean Society Los Angeles Chapter's Gray Whale Census tracked 74 northbound whales—the highest whale count this month—from its station at Point Vicente in Rancho Palos Verdes. Since then, volunteers have spotted between nine and 49 whales each day.

The Long Beach-based Harbor Breeze Cruises will continue twice-daily whale-watching cruises through April 30, according to its website.

Averaging 10,000-14,000 miles roundtrip from the Bering and Chukchi seas to the lagoons in Baja California, the gray whale migration is one of the longest migrations known to man. The 30- to 40-ton baleen whales can grow up to 50 feet in length.

Despite the decreasing numbers of gray whales spotted, fin whales are still making appearances in the area.