Whale Watching Cape Cod on the Dolphin IX (June 2011) The Dolphin Fleet the originators of whale watching on the east coast and the largest, most successful and experienced fleet in the country starting back in 1975. Over a dozen companies regularly visit the sanctuary during Early April - Mid October.Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is an 842-square-mile protected marine sanctuary located at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay, between Cape Cod and Cape Ann. It is known as an excellent whale watching site, and is home to many other species of marine life. The bank is, on average, 100 to 120 feet below the surface, while surrounding waters to the west are over 300 feet deep and to the northeast as deep as 600 feet. Some such fish are the Atlantic cod, yellow tail flounder, blue fin and yellow fin tuna, striped bass, blue fish and numerous species of shark including the Great White Shark. Fives species of seals; the Harp, Gray, Harbor, Hooded, and Ringed seal, and numerous whales species swim in the waters of Stellwagon. Whale watchers can frequently see Humpback Whales, Minke Whales, Fin Whales and, one of the most critically endangered whale species, North Atlantic Right Whales. Several other whale species can also be seen here including, the sperm whale, Beluga, Orca, Pilot whale, white beaked dolphin, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, Common dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, Harbor porpoise and Blue whale.

My Trip as per the Dolphin Fleet sighting Blog : June 20, 2011 On the Dolphin IX, 12:30
•18-25 Minke whales
•5 Humpback whales

Sea Conditions were flat calm on of the best days that had all year, offshore air temps were in 75-80 degrees. A perfect 10+ day to photograph on the water