A Whale of a Time

Commercial fishermen laughed at Frank Lizersedge and his friends in the early 1960s for what the crusty seabirds deemed a cockamamie idea. Taking civilians out on the water to get a closer look at the whales?

“They thought we were off our rockers,” Lizersedge said.

Undaunted by the lack of foresight among the men who ruled the L.A. Harbor, Lizersedge, Capt. Frank Hall and John Olguin (director emeritus of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium) acquired the first whale-watching permit in the harbor. Today, not only are the 22nd Street Landing whale watch excursions going full steam ahead, every landing in the harbor offers, along with just about every port from Sea World to Santa Barbara.

Lizersedge, who now manages the 22nd Street tours, says mid-February to early March is the best time to catch a glimpse of the migrating whales. The Pacific gray whales have been cruising south for more than a month, but by February the mammals are on the move up and down the California coast. Some are still heading down to the balmy waters of Baja to breed and give birth, while others are already making their way back to the frigid north where they feed.

The chances of seeing a whale--or several--are much better than they used to be. Since the 1970s, the whale population has multiplied, thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Pacific gray whales that numbered in the mere hundreds decades ago are now estimated at about 25,000, according to Susan Goldman, a naturalist for Cabrillo Marine Aquarium who leads school tours on board whale watch excursions.

The migration is also the backdrop for several whale festivals along the Southern California coast this month.

Dana Point’s annual Festival of Whales takes place over three weekends, beginning Feb. 26. Festivities on land and sea range from a street fair on opening weekend (10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days at La Plaza and PCH North) to tide-pool hikes and watercraft excursions. Both the Ocean Institute and the Doheny State Beach Visitors Center will hold open houses each weekend. A Taste of Dana Point Harbor winds up the festival on March 12, from 1-4 p.m. at the Doubletree on the Harbor.

For a complete schedule of festival events, check the Web site at https://www.dpfestivalofwhales.com or call (800) 290-DANA.

On Feb. 20, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro offers “The Complete Whale Watch,” which includes a slide show of the migrating whales at the aquarium followed by a docent-led whale watch excursion from 22nd Street Landing. Reservations are required for the event: (310) 832-2676. The cost is $15 per person.

In Oxnard, the fourth annual Celebration of Whales includes marine-related exhibits and events, through March 26 at Channel Islands Harbor. Events will include an Open Air Art Festival Feb. 19-21, Channel Islands Marine Floating Lab educational trips, tours of a Coast Guard cutter, sea chanteys, crafts for kids, ship model-building demonstrations, entertainment and exhibits by the Channel Islands National Park, Marine Sanctuary and Point Mugu Ranger Station. Harbor Landing, Oxnard. Information: (800) 269-6273.

Up the street in Ventura, Whalefest is slated for Feb. 20, 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Ventura Harbor. Learn about the whales through educational, environmental and cultural booths. Children’s activities will include a whale trivia treasure hunt held throughout Ventura Harbor Village, educational presentations with marine environmental organizations, and special shows with Gabriele the Clown. Kids ages 6 to 16 can create sand paintings of whales with local artist Dan the Sandman at various times during the day. Other activities include a free concert with Uncle Monkey, pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, dolphin characters and more.

Coinciding with Whalefest, the tall ship Hawaiian Chieftain is docked in Ventura Harbor through Feb. 21. It is available for daytime sails from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and for dockside tours from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dockside tours are $7 for families, $3 for adults, $2 for students and seniors, and $1 for children. Day sails are $40 for adults and $20 for children. Reservations are required: (800) 401-7835 or by visiting the Web site at https://www.hawaiianchieftain.com. For more information on Whalefest, call: (805) 644-0169.

Whale-watching excursions continue through the beginning of April at many of the following departure sites. Almost all the excursions have a naturalist aboard to explain about whale migration and share other fish tales. Call for schedules.

* 22nd Street Landing, 141 W. 22nd St., San Pedro. $13; ages 12 and younger, $11. (310) 832-8304.

* Catalina Cruises, 320 Golden Shore Blvd., Long Beach. Trips on Wednesdays-Sundays, twice a day on weekends. $15; ages 2-11, $11; under 2 free. (800) 228-2546.

* Other Long Beach Harbor landings (Pierpoint Landing, Long Beach Marina, Spirit Cruises and Belmont Pier): (800) 452-7829.

* Redondo Beach Sportfishing, 233 N. Harbor Drive. Two trips daily, at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. $10; Saturdays-Sundays, $12. (310) 372-2111.

* Atlantis Charters, LLC, 16370 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach. Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon; every other Sunday, beginning Feb. 20, 1 p.m. $19.50; children and seniors, $14.50. (562) 592-1154 or https://Atlantischarters.com.

* Ventura Harbor and Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard. The 3 1/2-hour cruises are $22; ages 3-12 $15. Reservations are recommended: (800) 474-1361.

* Sea World and Seaforth Landing in San Diego host whale watch excursions departing Mission Bay daily at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. An education expert will accompany each outing. If you don’t see a whale or dolphin, you get to ride again for free. Includes discount into Sea World: $17; seniors and ages 15 and younger, $12. (619) 224-3383 or https://www.seaforthlanding.com.