Humpback whales migrate to Alaska in the spring from calving grounds in Hawaii and Mexico to feed in our rich waters. They are renowned for their various acrobatic displays, including breaching, which may be related to courtship or play. During mate selection, groups of 2-20 males gather around a single female and exhibit a variety of behaviors to establish dominance.
Tail-slapping, flipper-slapping, charging, and parrying can be observed, and these displays can last for hours. Song is also assumed to have an important role in mating whether as a way for males to communicate dominance, as a mating call, or a mixture of the two. Humpback whale songs are long, complex, and only sung by males. You can actually view humpbacks from the beach near our lodge.
Orcas are a bit more camera-shy than humpbacks, and encounters are less frequent. Did you know that killer whales are not whales at all? They are the largest member of the porpoise family and were first known as “killer of whales” because they were observed to kill and eat whales. Orcas are long-lived animals that live to be 50-80 years old.
We are fortunate to be located within minutes of two steller sea lion colonies on Perl Island and Nagahut Rocks. Steller sea lions are highly gregarious on land and use the same sites for breeding, pupping, and resting year after year. Adult males can weigh over 1,200 pounds and live to be 20 years old. Females weigh half that and can live to be 30. During the late half of the 20th century, the population suffered a substantial decline. Possible sources are much debated and include predation, entanglement, reduced prey quality, or environmental shifts. Steller sea lions in our area are considered “endangered” and we observe them from a respectful distance.
Email us: poiboyfishing@alaska.net
Call us: 907-235-0778 or Toll Free: 888-Poi-Boy1
