Possible Delays in Payment Confirmation

 If you have sent Oregon Pelagic Tours a payment and not yet received your confirmation, there is no cause for alarm. The West Linn Post Office closed in February, so all post office box holders must pick up their mail during business hours at the Gladstone Post Office. This is obviously not very convenient, so I will be making irregular trips to pick up my mail. No worries -- everything is secure, but there will be some delays. 

OREGON PELAGIC TOURS 2021 SCHEDULE

Please do not send any payment at this time. If interested, please go to the Reservation page, read all material, then send us an email with the name of participant(s), address, and cell phone number. 

Prices given are for cash and checks. Extra charges apply for PayPal payments. 

No credit card payments can be accepted. 

No February trip in 2021

May 8 (Sat.)– Spring Seabirds (6 hours) $115 -- this date is confirmed. 

July 17 (Sat.) – Summer Seabirds (6 hours) $115

August 15 (Sun.) -- Early Fall Seabirds (8 hours) $155

August 28 (Sat.) – Fall Deepwater (12 hours) $225

September 12 (Sun.) – Newport Fall Seabirds (8 hours) $155

*September 18 (Sat.) – Ilwaco Fall Seabirds (8 hours) (OBA) Price TBD

*September 19 (Sun.) – Ilwaco Fall Seabirds (8 hours) (OBA) Price TBD

*The two trips from Ilwaco are provided for the OBA annual meeting -- OBA members attending the meeting will be given priority for reservations. 

(Date TBD)– Shorebird Festival Pelagic (5 hours, Charleston) 

September 25 (Sat.) –Lane County Pelagic (10 hours)  $190

October 9 (Sat.) –Fall Seabirds (8 hours) $155

October 24 (Sun.) – Late Fall Seabirds (8 hours) $155

December 4 (Sat.) – Winter Pelagic (7 hours) $135

December 5 Pelagic Trip Report and Highlights

As we prepared for our last pelagic trip of 2020, we were challenged by a constantly changing forecast, and ended up having to choose between high winds (25 kts) but lower swells (6 ft) on Saturday, and lower winds (10 kts) but much higher swells (12 ft) on Sunday. Our skipper felt certain that the worst winds would not come in until the afternoon, so we opted for less boat movement (lower waves) and went out on our scheduled date of Saturday the 5th. We did not have the calmest conditions of the year, but passengers coped very well, even during a rather rough trip back to the bay. While we did not see any true rarities, we had a good day. Although close views of most species proved elusive, a couple of participants managed to see five species of shearwaters including an out of season FLESH-FOOTED (photographed) and two late BULLER’s (very distant and seen by few). We tallied two albatross species, scattered BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS through much of the trip, and a single LAYSAN ALBATROSS at the one fishing boat we came across (nope, sadly no Short-tailed Albatross). Other noteworthy sightings included a late TUFTED PUFFIN, and great views of sitting ANCIENT MURRELETS. But the highlight of the trip for many of us were the two BLUE WHALES that uncharacteristically passed close to the boat. The sighting of the world’s largest animal was followed later by a sighting of the world’s second largest animal, two FIN WHALES. Two groups of curious Dall's porpoises did not come in to ride the bow as they sometimes do, but were welcome additions to the day's sightings. Overall, the conditions turned out to be better than forecast, with the higher winds and larger waves arriving later in the day, and any day in winter we can get out on the water is a good day. After a challenging 2020, Oregon Pelagic Tours is looking forward to a hopefully more relaxed and enjoyable 2021. We hope to see you on the ocean next year.