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For information and
reservations call us at
831.375.5951
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 Leatherback
Sea Turtles
Leatherback sea turtles come to Monterey bay to eat the
abundance of Jelly fish we have here. In the picture you
can see the turtle raising it's head to gulp the slimy
gelatinous jelly down it's throat! These turtles are
gravely endangered and if conditions for them do not
change they could possibly go extinct in the next 20
years! Scott Benson, local researcher, is generating a
great scientific effort right here in Monterey to save and
learn more about these turtles. When ever possible our
trips communicate sightings of the turtles to further
information gathering.
They are the largest sea turtle in the world achieving
lengths more than 8 ft and weight up to 2,000 lb.'s. Their
name comes from their leathery firm external casing that
is unlike all other hard shelled turtles. We usually start
seeing the Leatherbacks by May or June through to fall.
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 Mola
Mola's or better known as Sun Fish.
They were given this name because they are often seen
lying flat on the surface in the warmer layers of the
ocean sunning themselves like big giant saucers. When they
are laying flat, Molas can look as if they are injured,
but they may also be serving the Parasites that live on
their bodies to the gulls that like to pick the little
bugs off and eat them. Molas are one of our area's Largest
fish!!!!! These fish get to be as big as a small V.W. Bug
automobile and can weigh more than 1 ton They grow very
quickly by eating the abundance of Jelly Fish that come
into our Bay. Mola's have a beak like mouth, leathery
rough sandpaper skin, are covered externally and
internally with ghastly parasites, and they can vocalize,
which sounds something like a grunting squealing pig.
Their only defense mechanism seems to be that they
are....Well, BIG. Their hide is extremely thick and would
be difficult to impossible to bite through and there is
really not that much that turns out to be very edible to
predators witch is probably why most human cultures do not
utilize this large fish for food either. I should say that
they do have a toxin in their flesh that is also a wee bit
of a deterrent but when these fish are still small, Sea
Lions toss them like Frisbee's in the air toying with them
and biting their fins off so they can't swim away. The sea
Lions will bite through the Molas bellies to eat some
edible portions of the young fish. |
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