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Sports

Shore Columnist Shares Playful Minke Whale Video

The gregarious whale can be seen spy hopping and coming back to a boat over and over. Note: Don't try to touch a whale.

Editor's Note: This cute whale was not off our Belmont Shore coast, but it was so delightful that our Belmont Shore Patch fishing columnist wanted to share it on the holiday when we don't want much news. Enjoy.

Last year, Jeff Chi and friends were rockfishing about eight miles from Marina del Rey when a curious minke whale surfaced next to his boat, the Basshole. You can see how playful this leviathan was as it kept coming back for more attention and human interaction.

Chi said it was an amazing experience and one he will never forget. He did also mention how terrible the playful whale smelled. Danny Salas from Harbor Breeze Cruises in Long Beach says he sees it all the time. "When people meet these whales up close and personal, it changes them," he said.

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Jimmy Bass from Tradition Sportfishing had a similar experience. "We had a minke whale about 25 feet or so touch our guard rail on the boat while we were sculpin fishing off El Segundo. It was a very cool experience."

You will see the whale come back to the boat time and time again, spy hopping, and looking for human contact.

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Minke whales are targeted by the Japanese whaling industry. Last year, the Japanese ended their season early promped in large part by Paul Watson of Animal Planet's Whale Wars, and his constant harassment. One has to ask if even Terrible Ted would change his mind after seeing this gregarious whale? Probably not.

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