San Diego County Waters to the 9-Mile and 30-Mile Banks

Saturday, May 21, 2016
6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Black Storm-Petrels off San Diego
400+ Black Storm-Petrels off San Diego 16 May 2009
This popular 12-hour trip goes to the farthest reaches of San Diego County waters—the 30-Mile Bank—to look for seabirds only occasionally or rarely seen in San Diego County (may very briefly bird in L.A. Co. waters). This is an excellent time of year for such sought-after species as Black-footed Albatross, Ashy Storm-Petrel, South Polar Skua, and Scripps’s Murrelet. Near the peak of spring migration.

LIKELY SPECIES: Pink-footed & Sooty Shearwaters, Ashy & Black Storm-Petrels, Brown Booby, Red-necked & Red Phalaropes, Pomarine & Parasitic Jaegers, Scripps’s Murrelet, Cassin’s & Rhinoceros Auklets, Sabine’s Gull. POSSIBLE SPECIES: Black-footed Albatross, Northern Fulmar, Black-vented Shearwater, Leach’s Storm-Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, South Polar Skua, Common Murre, Common Tern.

Full San Diego Specialty Pelagic Bird seasonality can be found by clicking here.

MARINE MAMMALS: We expect to see three or four species of dolphins (Bottlenose, Common, Pacific White-sided, and Risso’s are the candidates), plus some whales—Blue, Fin, Sei, Minke and Humpback are the best candidates.

CHECK-IN TIME: 5:00-6:00 a.m.
Gates Closed and Locked: 6:15 a.m.
Return: 6:30 p.m.

REGISTRATION:
EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION: $95 through April 24.
Standard Registration: $105 from April 25 through May 14.
Late Registration: $115 on or after May 15.

RESERVATIONS: Call Point Loma Sportfishing (the Landing) seven days a week at (619) 223-1627.
Tell them you wish to make a reservation for a birding trip on the Grande.

IMPORTANT DEPARTURE AND BOARDING DETAILS
All trips are sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society.

LANDING LOCATION: We will board Grande 30 minutes prior to departure at Point Loma Sportfishing Landing, 1403 Scott Street at the corner of Emerson (one block off Rosecrans Street) in San Diego 92106. Phone: (619) 223-1627. There are several hotels/motels and many restaurants within easy walking distance of the dock, and the San Diego Airport is only a 5-minute drive away.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO THE LANDING:

PARKING: There is a large parking at Point Loma Sportfishing for a fee. Enter the lot using the Emerson & Scott entrance and you’ll be right at the landing, where you can drop off your gear and seek permanent parking. Free parking is available on the residential streets around the harbor (for day trips)—particularly to the west of Rosecrans Street—but such street parking is very limited in summer months. If the landing parking lot is full, you’ll be directed to a lighted off-site self-serve pre-pay parking lot about two blocks away that has always had space and accepts credit cards.

GEAR UNLOADING: You may pull into the landing parking lot, unload your gear directly in front of Point Loma Sportfishing and then park in the lot or seek on-street parking. You’re not charged if you’re in the parking lot for under 30 minutes.

PHOTO I.D. and BOARDING PASS REQUIRED: All passengers departing Fisherman’s Landing and Point Loma Sportfishing must complete the manifest and present photo identification and obtain a boarding pass prior to passing through the Coast Guard security gates. This is mandatory procedure per U.S. Homeland Security.

START YOUR DAY STRESS-FREE: We recommend that you arrive at the landing an hour prior to scheduled departure to allow plenty of time to find the landing and available parking, unload or transport gear, obtain a boarding pass at the Point Loma Sportfishing ticket window, sign the manifest, use the landing’s restroom, visit with friends, and board Grande 30 minutes before scheduled departure. All trips depart on-time without waiting for late-comers. Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure. More tips and hints on their trip preparation page.