Whale Watching in Ventura
Information about Whale Watching in Ventura California
The waters off Ventura not only get Gray Whales during their migration but Ventura is also very close to the Channel Islands. It is a good area for Whale Watching due to the large variety of Whales and marine life that migrate to or live in the waters. The possibilities of sightings would be the same as Santa Barbara. Whales include Gray Whales, Blue Whales, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and sometimes Orcas (Killer Whales). Dolphin species’ include Common, Bottlenose, Risso's, Pacific White Sided and Dall's Porpoise. Sea Lions are a common sighting as are Harbor Seals and you might also see an Elephant Seal. Other sea animals include sharks, fish, jelly fish and many different marine birds.
Whale Watching in Oxnard - Channel Islands Harbor
Oxnard's Channel Islands Harbor has restaurants, shops, events and trips to the Channel Islands.
Whale Watching companies in Oxnard
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Island Packers - Seasonal Gray Whale watching as well as summer Blue and Humpback whale watching (however the summer I tried to go and they did not schedule any trips). The seasonal gray whale migration cruises take place from December 26th through early April. Most of their whale watching cruises take place aboard Catamarans, although they do have one conventional ship that fills in during busy periods. Trips to the islands are their forte but for the Gray Whale migration, Newport would be my first choice.
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Ranger 85 - Seasonal whale watching during the Gray Whale migration from Channel Islands Sportfishing Center. This is a fishing boat that fills in during the Gray Whale migration doing whale watching. Very sturdy but lacking any frills that you would expect with the top notch whale watching providers. I would suggest heading farther north or south.
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Captain Hook’s Sportfishing - provides seasonal whale watching during the Gray Whale migration. Primarily a sport fishing operation doing whale watching during the slow fishing months.
Whale Watching in Ventura - Ventura Harbor
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Island Packers - Seasonal Gray Whale watching as well as summer Blue and Humpback whale watching (however the summer I tried to go and they did not schedule any trips). The seasonal gray whale migration cruises take place from December 26th through early April. Most of their whale watching cruises take place aboard Catamarans, although they do have one conventional ship that fills in during busy periods. Trips to the islands are their forte but for the Gray Whale migration, Newport would be my first choice.
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Know of any other Whale Watching companies in Ventura? Let us know.
(more information and pages to come - if you know of any other Whale Watching companies or Harbors that do Whale Watching in Ventura county please let us know)
I have not yet been Whale Watching from or visited either of the Harbors in Ventura County. I have heard the areas are beautiful and the Marine Mammals you might see would be the same as from Santa Barbara or Newport Beach. Ventura seems more focused on the Island tours than their Whale Watching tours. Their whale watching schedules and information seem harder to find. They do see Whales and Dolphin on their trips to the Channel Islands but for a better whale watching excursion, including months outside of the Gray Whale migration, I would personally recommend you drive south to whale watching Orange county or further north and go Whale Watching Santa Barbara.
Need a place to stay on your trip? Try Ventura vacation rentals.
Know of any great places for Whale Watching in Southern California or information you would like to share? Email Us