The last season has been incredible and we are grateful that Mother Nature is delivering her best again this year. Our Marlins and Mexican Sardine Run Expeditions 2020 are nothing short of incredible. Witnessing this annual congregation of predators enjoying a smorgasbord of sardines is epic. The season is not yet over but we’re excited to share some awesome highlights.
Striped Marlins in action
The season began with fiery action from the Striped Marlin, the main star of our expeditions. It’s really a delight to see these beautiful creatures weave their magic in the water.
Did you know that most marlin species like to keep to themselves? However, Striped Marlins are different from their cousins because they like to gather in groups to take advantage of a bait ball. In Magdalena Bay, Striped Marlins are known to work cooperatively to boost the success of their hunt.
Naturally gifted with speed, marlins swoosh effortlessly underwater to tackle the huge bait ball. Striped Marlins use their speed, power, and wit to maximize the number of fish that they bring down. That makes them top-notch predators!
We love seeing the marlins in action during our expeditions. It’s remarkable watching them attack the sardines with precision. Teamwork gives them a great advantage in the water as they hunt and feed cooperatively.
Our group also saw seals during the feeding frenzy. Seals are excellent swimmers and skillful predators. They swim around the bait ball like cattle dogs herding sheep. Then they bust through the giant ball picking off one victim at a time.
Another fascinating sight during the feeding is the cascading of fish scales in the water. The fish scales glisten in the sunlight and surrounds the area. It’s almost magical watching them sparkle in the azure waters.
Elusive Bryde Whale comes to view
After the marlin madness on our expeditions 1 and 2, Mother Nature gave us a giant surprise. One of the biggest highlights of expeditions 3 and 4 is our encounter with the elusive Bryde’s Whale.
Bryde’s Whales are named after Johan Bryde, a Norwegian who put up the first whaling stations in the early 20th century in South Africa. Sadly, the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s Whale is considered endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This species is vulnerable to ocean noise, vessel strikes, and whaling.
Seeing this majestic creature out in the open waters of Magdalena Bay is a real treat for our group. We hope to encounter this beautiful whale again in our future expeditions.
Orcas up close and personal
A pod of beautiful killer whales, a.k.a. orcas graced our succeeding Sardine Run expeditions off the coasts of Bahía Magdalena. Orcas reign supreme underwater because of their remarkable hunting techniques. They collaborate with one another which makes them efficient hunters. It’s always an honor to swim in the same waters with them.
On our fifth Sardine Run Expedition, a wonderful opportunity came knocking on our door. While our group was in Cabo getting ready for a day’s drive to Magdalena Bay, we received a call from our captain who had gone fishing. He told us that the orcas were in Cabo and following his boat.
When an opportunity like that knocks, we know better than to let it pass. So we took off earlier than planned to catch up with the black and white predators. True enough the orcas were out and about and ready to partake in the feast. Making last-minute adjustments to our travel plans was all worth it. Our group spent over three amazing hours with the same Orca pod that we saw four days earlier on our previous Sardine Run expedition. It seems our paths were destined to cross again.
Join us
Want to experience awesome marine life encounters like these? Get in touch with Baja Shark Experience to know more about our Marlins Expeditions and other exciting activities such as our Swim with Sharks Cabo San Lucas.
Photos by Evans Baudin