Pelagic Trips Scheduled Trips 2008 Whale Watch/Fishing Boats Birding On Whale Watch Boats Chumming

To most birders, pelagic birding means taking a trip on a boat and getting out there. While the term pelagic refers to the open ocean, most of the so-called pelagic trips are confined to the continental shelf.

Area bird clubs sponsor trips. These trips include dedicated trips where the club charters a boat and trip participants are all birders.  There are also trips where the group joins a commercial whale watch or fishing trip. On these trips not all participants are bird watching.  Whale research organizations sponsor trips for Cetaceans on which you can also see birds.

Due to the whale watching industry there are commercial whale watch trips every day from April to late October. Commercial party fishing trips run a lengthy season. We will tell you how to plan your trip on a whale watch boat or fishing boat. Please read the section on birding on whale watch boats to better understand the benefits and limitations.