I just saw tens of thousands of dolphins moving north in a massive pod. Do they migrate in such numbers?

Question

The afternoon hours of March 21, approx. 8 nautical miles from Catalina's Avalon Harbor, under sail enroute to Dana Point, our party was witness to a movement of Pacific bottlenose dolphins in what seemed like epic numbers! They were pretty tightly grouped, moving fast, and best guesstimates make the school at up to 3/4 mile wide and perhaps 1 1/2 to 2 miles in length!
As coastal pleasure sailors with a fair number of hours logged offshore Southern California, we'd never seen groups anywhere near this size, and would like to know:
1) Given the estimated dimensions of the group, how many individuals could we've witnessed?
2) Do they assemble and move this way often?
3) Where'd they go and what're they doing?
4) Have you had similar encounters?

Thanks for any insight or stories!
IT WAS VERY VERY COOL!

Answer 1

Estimated dimensions would be difficult to determine. I would say a good guess is somewhere in the hundreds, possibly thousands. There is no scientific knowledge that could give you a better approximation.

It is not unheard of for dolphins, and whales, to assemble as such. This type of social structure is called a superpod. I, would however, say this is a somewhat unique experience to see.

When groups of dolphins get together like this, it is typically only for one thing - FOOD! As huge amounts of fish migrate up and down continental coastlines, predators such as dolphins oftentimes follow. I did mention that other cetaceans such as whales congregate like this. For example, beluga whales often congregate like this not for food, but to bear their young at the mouth of a river. I'm fairly certain the p. b. dolphins you saw were in it for the food.

I, personally, have not had such encounters. I live in Florida and because of our sub-tropical climate we don't get huge movements of mammals.

Answer 2

1. what you saw on the surface was just that, there could have been more swimming at a deeper level, so it would be hard to guess how many were there
2. that is quite common for dolphins of any species, especially the bottlenose (think flipper) and the common dolphin
3.they are most likely migrating to their spring time fishing grounds and mating waters, there are probably other pods of dolphins going to the same area
4. last year for my sweet 16 my parents took me on a "dolphin encounter" in flordia. although the pod was not as large as you are describing, there were easily 100+ dolphins there. it is definitly a sight like no other. seeing the dolphins swimming and playing, it was like watching some fantasy...it was so unreal...sorry wallowing in memories. hope you find what you are looking for

Answer 3

Yes

Answer 4

only if you are on acid, shrooms, lsd, pcp, morphine, opium, or FarOuts personal favorite oxycontin