L pod off Grays Harbor WA

March 26
Our encounter with L pod off Westport today: Spent entire day with them as they were heading south - left them off Long Beach - too far inshore to take the Mac II at night so will have to try to relocate in AM.
Looks like we will be hiding somewhere over weekend due to 40 kts wind forecast.
Brad Hanson, NOAA Fisheries NWFSC, from NOAA Ship McArthur II

March 26
3:30 am - L pod off Grays Harbor WA.
We found L pod on the 4th day at sea!!! The NOAA ship, McArthur II ran into all of L pod just north of Grays Harbor WA. in the middle of the night last night (~0330 March 26). We lost them acoustically but then found them visually and acoustically in the mid morning and were able to deploy the small boat (RHIB). The whales were spread out and traveling south most of the day. Brad and the rest of the crew got photo IDs and some prey samples, stayed with them day until 1830. Last visual sighting was at dusk when they grouped back up and became quiet. Hopefully we will stick with them through the night to get more samples tomorrow.
Marla Holt, NOAA Fisheries NWFSC, from NOAA Ship McArthur II