Picture of Chopfin

Photo: Chopfin and his frequent companion, CA216, who is identifiable by the narrow black streak on her saddle, cruise the Monterey coastline in 2007. Credit: Cody Martin

I received the accompanying photo of Chopfin the killer whale after an item I posted Tuesday on the recent sightings locally of Chopfin and his frequent companion, an adult female cataloged as CA216.

So I thought I'd share. The photo was taken by Cody Martin in Monterey Bay on Aug. 26, 2007. (Chopfin is a transient killer whale that feeds on marine mammals and has been documented preying on gray whales off Monterey.)

I had the pleasure of meeting Martin, a budding marine biologist from El Segundo, on an all-day whale-watch trip last March. He was 12 at the time and it was a rare sighting in itself: a kid actually enjoying the great outdoors.

"It's just such a mystery; you never know what you're going to see," Martin said on a day during which we saw very few whales.

Anyway, Outposts thanks Cody for taking an interest, and for sharing this great photo.

--Pete Thomas