Whale watchers flock to Pacifica for stunning show

PACIFICA, Calif. (KGO) -- Whale watchers are flocking to the San Mateo County coastline in mass to see an amazing show.

A humpback whale has been breaching the water off the coast of Pacifica.

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Allie Fitzgerald and Pete Weafer are among the dozens of surfers who have been getting an up close and personal look at these whales.

"We saw so many whales, they started over there and you see the spouts coming in and every once in a while they would pop their heads up and breach a little bit," Fitzgerald said.

"Half the time I'm like, 'Allie right there, there's the spout' and she's like 'Aw I just missed it, or, 'I saw it too.' It's great. It's really fun," Weafer said.

The word is out that is the place for easy whale watching. One couple was visiting from are from Missouri.

"My father-in-law lives here in Pacifica and he's been telling us about the whales," said Missouri resident

"Several out there, I mean they just come up and dive up and back down, they're just absolutely beautiful," Janice Castening said.

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Scientists say recent weather patterns have pushed schools of fish closer to shore and the whales are coming in to feed.

"It's called lunge feeding and so the whales will do little circle under the water down below the school of fish to coral them into a tighter school, and they'll come up through the middle of the school with their mouth open," said Jim Harvey of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.

What we don't know is how long this will last, but residents and surfers say they're enjoying the show.

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