Whale watching cruises were back on schedule this week after expectations of rain diminished during the daylight hours and sunshine, instead, greeted tourists visiting Newport Beach. Two girls amuse themselves with their iphones while waiting for the whale watching cruise to launch from Newport Landing. Daily whale watching and sportfishing cruises depart near the Balboa Pavilion a for the whale watching adventure.

The whale counts have been light (around 0 - 2 per day) on the Newport Landing trips, though there have been lots of sightings of Pacific white-sided dolphins, common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. On the 1/2 day fishing trips the anglers are catching mostly sandbass and sculpin.

And coming soon are the grunion runs. Seal Beach Lifeguards report there will be runs March 6 - 9, 2011. The grunion runs require a fishing license for anyone age 16 and older. They usually occur after 10 p.m.

Get out and see the sea in California!