Organising a pelagic-need tips (part 2)

[Jules Sykes]

Hi
Firstly apologies to Edward for hi-jacking his title but it was ideal and has also helped me sort the 'Chum' and how to make it. I am currently organising a pelagic trip from Denia (headland just north of Alicante) in the Mediterranean Sea. I was wondering if anyone had any idea on how far out we need to go before the chumming should start. Are there any deep water channels running through this part of the Med, which could be used by whales and in turn favoured by seabirds. Alternatively is there a website with sea chart information, which I can download and use for the trip out. The second part is, has anyone tried this before from the Spanish East Coast, and if so with what results, we are planning to go in early October.
Thanks Jules

[Katy Penland]

Hi, Jules,

Not familiar with the Med, but if your boat's captain/crew are unfamiliar with pelagic birding, they will no doubt, as fishermen (I assume), be familiar with sea mounts, banks and escarpments (like the continental shelf) -- i.e., areas where deep water upwellings occur that attract fish that in turn attract birds and marine mammals. At least this is how we determine our pelagic trips off California. The locations of these underwater topographical features will determine how far offshore you might want to go on your trip.

Speaking of Edward, did I miss where he posted his trip report? I'd love to see how they did on their maiden voyage!

Good luck on your trip, Jules! I love pelagic birding because you just never know what's going to come flying up your chum line! And if it's an overnight trip, waking up to the sight of 15 sperm whales logging on the surface is a memory I'd like to have had -- our crew thought we were on deck, but my boyfriend and I were sound asleep in our bunks just before daybreak when this incredible photo op occurred!!!! Lesson: Don't use earplugs on a boat, no matter how close to the engine room your bunk is! ;)

[Jules Sykes]

Hi Katy
Thanks for that, in fact the skipper has an 8 man pleasure boat, which he taking out early in the morning for us. Your probably right that he may have some charts of his own of the surrounding waters and will have to try and sort something out prior to our departure. We really need to give ourselveles the best chance possible of seeing something unusual, or even just attracting both Balearic and Yelkouan Shearwaters (both breed near here) close in.
As an aside I fondly remember a pelagic from Monterey (in 89) with livid memories of 2 Blue Whales taking my breath away with their sheer size, not to mention the superb array of seabirds. One day I will be back with the family. Take care.
Cheers Jules

[Edward]

Hi Jules,

It'd be really interesting to hear how you get on in the Med. Our main aim when we thought about chumming was to get far enough out to be free of the large gulls which we though might dominate proceedings otherwise. This we did and we only had one or two Great Black-backed Gulls. Instead we were inundated with Fulmars, a problem you won't have in the Med! Also make sure you chop your fish up as much as possible. Big pieces just sink. It would be great to be able get good looks at Balearic and Yelkouan Shearwaters, especially together.

Katy, your Sperm Whales sound absolutely marvellous.

By the way Jules, I've told my lawyers to back off with regard plagiarising my thread title so you needn't worry ;-)

E