Do killer whales ever come to Cape/New England ?

[striprman]

With the white sharks ?

[islander]

Yes, I have a book on whales that shows pictures of killer whalers off long point.

[Raven]

Only if someone takes out a contract

[Blitzseeker]

My neighbor is a commerical tuna guy, and he told me that he saw a killer whale in Cape Cod bay once...but only once in many years.

[JamesJet]

This may be a complete rumor, but friends of mine who have a place on Town Cove Orleans claim that killer whales came in and killed seals one year, years back. They talked about about like everyone knew. They did not say they saw it, just that it happened.

Anyone ever heard this?

[thefishingfreak]

John White at fishermans outfitters in Gloustah, tells of killer whales slaughtering giant tuna in mass bay some {probly 10 now} years ago

[MAKAI]

The Tammy Rose out of chatham saw one last oct

[Squid kids Dad]

Yes... Saw many years ago in the Bay back in the 70's

[Pete_G]

I recently either read somewhere or watched a TV show discussing killer whales off the Cape.

I just can't seem to remember where so I can't link it to this thread...

[joe the plumber]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

John White at fishermans outfitters in Gloustah, tells of killer whales slaughtering giant tuna in mass bay some {probly 10 now} years ago

Charlie Dodge told me the same story,around that same time frame.

[animal]

In "Fish the chair,if you dare",Capt Greg Beacher writes of seeing one between the cape,and BI,with a giant tuna in its jaws.

[Blitzseeker]

Probably a stupid question for those who know these fish much better than I, but:

How the hell can a killer whale catch a giant tuna? Can't the tuna just turn on the jets and put a killer whale two miles behind it in a second flat?

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by Blitzseeker

Probably a stupid question for those who know these fish much better than I, but:

How the hell can a killer whale catch a giant tuna? Can't the tuna just turn on the jets and put a killer whale two miles behind it in a second flat?

I was wondering the same. Here's a quote from Wikipedia:

The killer whale's large size and strength make it among the fastest marine mammals, often reaching speeds in excess of 35 kn (65km/h).

65km/h converts to about 45MPH. I believe tuna have a cruising speed around 15-25MPH and bursts up to 50MPH.

[Fly Rod]

They have been seen off of Cape Ann on a rare occasion.

[joe the plumber]

I thought the same about a Bluefin's speed.The way Charlie told the story it appears that even if the tuna had the advantage of speed[which it seems they do not] the Killer Whales actually herded the tuna,then kept circling them,and then the whales would go into the school one at a time and pick them off.He told me he witnessed it with his own eyes as he was commercial fishing for them at the time,which explains why he was there.
The one thing that I will allways remember about him telling this story was how upset he was with the whales wasting so many big money fish.

[big jay]

When I was in high school - around '87/'88 a pod came into CCBay and nailed a school of Bluefin right on the fishing ledge. Wild seen. Screwed up the fishing Big time - it seemed like every Giant in the bay hightailed it out of there for a few days after.

My Dad has also seen pods off Block and Gloucester over the years - including one that nailed a Big giant on the NW Corner and had it in its mouth like a dog bone.

[Roger]

My brother saw two around Cox ledge two weeks ago. My buddy and I saw one yesterday off of Nauset. So yes, they are around.

[JohnnyD]

Before tuna season, Sweetwater and I were dreaming about what the tuna showing this upcoming season will be. He was telling me about how Orcas have been seen in record numbers down in the warm waters of the Gulf where the tuna spawn.

[MAKAI]

In Patagonia the Orca's have learned to throw themselves on the beach to grab seals. Even better they bring them offshore a bit and smack them around with their tails. Seals must pinwheel 20 ft in the air, the vermin is still alive. Then after a while they eat.
Watching this at high head would be Nirvana for me.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by MAKAI

In Patagonia the Orca's have learned to throw themselves on the beach to grab seals. Even better they bring them offshore a bit and smack them around with their tails. Seals must pinwheel 20 ft in the air, the vermin is still alive. Then after a while they eat.
Watching this at high head would be Nirvana for me.

Planet Earth had an episode that speculated the Orcas would play with the seals before eating them. In some cases, they didn't even eat the seal after throwing them around.

[MAKAI]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

Planet Earth had an episode that speculated the Orcas would play with the seals before eating them. In some cases, they didn't even eat the seal after throwing them around.

Well that would suck if they didn't eat them. Hopefully they cause so much internal trauma that they die on the beach , a walk is as good as a hit.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by MAKAI

Well that would suck if they didn't eat them. Hopefully they cause so much internal trauma that they die on the beach , a walk is as good as a hit.

Oh yes... they'd toss the seals all around, bat them 10 feet in the air with their tails and sometimes just swim away leaving the without taking a bite. I'll see if I can't find the clip on YouTube.

Btw, shouldn't you be turning over your truck and finding your gear so you can meet me to fish?

Edit: Here it is


And one more. Terrible quality.

[Backbeach Jake]

I saw a killer whale absolutely BLAST a BFT in CC bay about 8 years ago. My fishing partner was Capt. Joe Roderick, he was right beside me. I told him what I thought I had just seen through my binocs. He said that killer whalers visit the Cape frequently. Said that they had one in Ptown harbor years back that would beg for fish at the stern of boats at the wharf. He'd found out after a vacay in Florida. Came home , went to his boat , the Jimmy Boy, to get ready. He was working toward the stern of the boat when a huge black and white head came out of the water and looked him in the eye. He also told me of sailing his Sunfish sailboat and coming across a couple in close to Cold Storage Beach. He lived nearby at the time. Couldn't get back quick enough.

[Karl F]

Originally Posted by JamesJet

This may be a complete rumor, but friends of mine who have a place on Town Cove Orleans claim that killer whales came in and killed seals one year, years back. They talked about about like everyone knew. They did not say they saw it, just that it happened.

Anyone ever heard this?

Yes Killer Whales come around every once in a while, and Yes to the above as well.

I remember them being seen in CCBay as well.

Not surprising.... there are an estimated, 6-10 thousand seals now, some say even higher, roaming the shores of cape cod.... and now in the bay too... good friend said Billingsgate is looking like Monomoy lately when he goes by, and even saw a bunch on Jeremy's point, hauled out on one of his trips by...

I truly believe we will see more and more GW's over the next several years, and would not be surprised if they are joined by killer whales more frequently as well.

[quick decision]

that is amazing video

[Mugz]

Saw one many years ago while on a Whale Watching Boat.....of course it was the highlight of the trip. Killer Whale road our wake like a dolphin for a mile or so. A picture was in the newspaper the next day....maybe out of Plymouth? I forget.....maybe 25 years ago?

[Typhoon]

My old man and his buddies who were fishing commercially for BFT saw one herding giants on the beach in Provincetown in the 70s.

[Gloucester2]

Here's the proof - pictures taken by Willy Goldsmith while fishing of a North Shore boat - the Yellowbird if I'm not mistaken. The killer whale was using the anchor rode to scratch it's back

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by Gloucester2

Here's the proof - pictures taken by Willy Goldsmith while fishing of a North Shore boat - the Yellowbird if I'm not mistaken. The killer whale was using the anchor rode to scratch it's back

Now those pictures are incredibly awesome. When were they taken?

[Gloucester2]

Couple or 3 years ago . . .