Ok so i guess 1997 can’t be called vintage just yet, but check out these old advertisements for Capt. Bill & Sons whale watch. Our friend Dave found a bunch of old Gloucester Daily Times as he was cleaning his basement and some had our Ads in them.  One of them is from late 80’s/early 90’s when were located down Rose’s Wharf! The other two are from 1997 and 1998.  Brings back memories from the m/v Miss Cape Ann III, one of our old catamarans that we no longer have.

Its hard to believe 1997 was actually 15 years ago! Time sure flies when you’re watching whales.

Hope all is well with all of our Capt. Bills Fans. As the winter months roll in, we will be posting mostly about interesting artcles pertaining to whales/marine life, and also current events/Cape Ann news. Please feel free to email thoughts or articles you come across to info@captbillandsons.com so we can post them on the blog to share with other fans.

Speaking of such articles, there was a humpback sighting (possibly one of ours!) off the coast of North Carolina this week, check it out!

And click here to read about the Right whales that have been spotted hanging out off Plymouth, MA!

If you haven’t had your whale photo fix in the past recent weeks, check these ones out. They are from a satisfied whale watching customer, David B., who came out with us in July for an amazing whale watch trip! Thanks David!

OUR GIFT SHOP IS OPEN YEAR ROUND FOR THE WHALE LOVER IN THE FAMILY

WHAT BETTER THAN A CAPT. BILLS GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR CHRISTMAS?!

Capt. Bills is officially done with the whale watch season. For those of you that joined us for a whale watch (or many whale watches), we thank you for a great, successful season . If you didn’t get to go out on a whale watch adventure this year, come see us next year! Our season runs May thru October.

However the Miss Cape Ann is still out there looking for whales, Right whales that is. For the past few years, the Whale Center receives a grant to do Right whale surveys from our boat. Check out this cool pic of her in action..

taken by NOAA/NEFSC/Allison Henry

Well the whale watching season is starting to die down as we approach the end of Summer/ beginning of Fall. Unfortunately we have been losing a lot of trips throughout the month of October due to inclement weather– lots of high winds and fog. We did get a chance to get out twice last week, where we spotted a few fin whales, some harbor porpoises and a few humpbacks as well! Although we havent gotten out much this week, we will hopefully be whale watching this weekend.  Please call for an updated schedule!

Fluke from one of our favorite humpbacks, Salt, taken 10/7

Gloucester sunset

Fall in Gloucester

Whats left after our beloved Greasy Pole fell.

If you love whales, love Capt. Bills, love our Facebook page….show it!

Want to see up to date pics from our daily whale watch adventures?? “Like” our business page on Facebook, where you can see daily updates on recent sightings, whale watch pictures and flukes, and even a few scenic Gloucester pics. Our goal is to get 300 likes by the end of the season.. so “like” away! (they haven’t made a “love” button yet on FB for some of our diehard whale watchers, but when they do you can “love” us)

Have any pictures from your amazing whale watch with us? Tag us in them! Our friend page is under Captbills whale watch.

Capt. Bill’s Fall Whale Watch Schedule

September

Mon-Fri- 11 AM

Weekends- 9 AM & 2 PM

October

Sun-Fri- 10 AM

Saturdays- 1 PM

For the past month and a half we have been traveling down to the southern tip of Stellwagen for great sightings, large feeding groups, and exciting activity. The whales have spoiled our customers rotten! It now seems the past few days the whales have  separated and moved a little further down South. Still great sightings though!

Yesterdays trip had an awesome afternoon on Stellwagen Bank. We saw breaching, lobtailing, and flipper slapping. We also saw a couple minke whales, and some bluefin tuna, one of them coming completely out of the water. Whales ID’d were Canopy and calf.

Check out some pics from Sunday’s morning whale watch from our mate:

A humpback’s double blowhole

Double fluke shot!

And some more from our customers Mandy and Doreen from Sunday as well:

Tail breach from a humpback named Snare

Fluke shot. (Notice the glowing pectoral flippers in the water!)

Partial double fluke shot

An ominous rain storm! what a cool pic!

Glad to say we are still going strong with lots of great, successful whale watch trips! Just yesterday we saw 10-12 humpbacks on our morning trip, including Cajun, Bolide & calf, Pumba, Hancock, Firefly, and Condensation..with close to boat activity, rolling over, flipper slapping, and a big BREACH right next to the boat! The afternoon trip yesterday also saw 10-12 humpbacks including Cajun, Pele, Milkweed, Eruption, Hancock, Pumba, Aerospace, Alegra, and Perseid.

Some comments from yesterday’s tour:

“It was really cool seeing all of the whales in person. It was especially cool to see the whale jump out of the water!” Daniel N.

“Excellent. very well organized & gave us a fantastic experience of whale watching” Paul P. UK

“Weather was great, whales had put on a great show!”- Yolanda F. Winslow, AZ

“Amazing! To hear the whales and see them up close easily brought tears to my eyes.” Sunshine F. Vernon, NJ

Some recent pics taken by Ray

Lots of things in Gloucester this weekend!!

SUNDAY 8/21/11 8 AM – 2ND ANNUAL RUN! GLOUCESTER- This 7 mile road race goes all throughout Gloucester. CAUTION: If coming on our morning whale watch this day, (which has been switched to 8:30 boarding 8am) be advised there will be traffic delays in Gloucester.  If you see a Gloucester cop blocking traffic please tell him you are coming on our morning watch so he can let you through. click HERE for more info

SATURDAY + SUNDAY 8/20-8/21/11- 31st annual GLOUCESTER WATERFRONT FESTIVAL- Held at Stage Fort Park 9am-6pm free admission, rain or shine. “A collection of over 175 Juried Artists and Craftsmen from throughout the U.S. will display their unique creations, live music, plus delicious ethnic foods. Free live “family style” entertainment includes Celtic, Ragtime Bands, Country and Folk Music. North Shore Old Car Club will display over 75 Antique Autos on Sunday.”- capeannvacations.com.. click HERE for more info

**due to these events there may be more traffic in Gloucester, please give yourself plenty of time

Whales are still a little further away (which makes for a 4-5 hour trip), but what unbelievable sightings lately!! Yesterdays morning trip saw kick feeding, breaching, tail breaching, flipper slapping and a close to boat visit from Venom’s calf!  The afternoon trip was lucky enough to see just about every breach you can imagine- head breaches, full breaches, spinning head breaches, tail breaching, and saw an extremely active humpback, Longboard, breach 92 times!!!!!! What a show!

Comments from this weekend:

“Wonderful (3rd in 3 weeks) informative- friendly- careful of whales and one at end was great!! Thanks!!”- Laura D. Gloucester MA

“It was beyond my expectations. Fabulous. Our guide was a well-informed expert”- Kiera W. Brooklyn NY

“This is my favorite whale watching trip I went on. I’ve never been so close to the whales or seen them breach”- Kathryn C. Chichester NY

“Well documented, efficient, friendly + wonderful watch!”- Claire B Mamers, France

“A fantastic opportunity to witness humpback behaviors. Great to have the info” Moira W. Tottenham, ON

Thanks again to one of our #1 fans Mandy Houston for the unbelievable pics from 7/24/11…

Check out this amazing video of Michael Fishbach, co-founder of The Great Whale Conservancy in CA, helping free a humpback whale entangled in a fishing net in the Sea of Cortez on Valentine’s Day 2011.  Imagine trying to disentangle a free-swimming humpback whale? This will give you a little insight into how this daunting task is tackled.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/family-rescues-grateful-humpback-whale-171727276.html