Tag: whale tours | Legend Charters

There are no longer fishing charters in the south west of WA

The Demise of Fishing Charters in the South West

Posted on December 31, 2024 | by Legend Charters

No More Fishing Charters

Legend Charters has been operating fishing charters from Busselton and Dunsborough since 2010.

In 2023 the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development brought new legislation into WA to protect demersal fisheries in the various regions.

Tags which were distributed to the various tour operators were limited and this meant it was no longer viable for tour operators to continue offering fishing charters to guests in the south west region.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-14/wa-fishing-council-slams-move-to-increase-demersal-catch-limits/103465264

Naturaliste Charters catamaran the Alison Maree — Experience Whale Watching charters from the purpose built Alison Maree

Whale Watching Charters Grow

Before Legend Charters ceased operating fishing charters they opened up whale watching tours from Dunsborough, Augusta and Busselton towns.

This has become very popular, not just with visitors to the region but with locals.

Legend Charters took on a larger 23 metre catamaran and had it renovated to suit the ocean conditions in Bremer Bay, commencing killer whale tours from the harbour.

This catamaran is the Alison Maree and the business has grown and is operating under the Naturaliste Charters banner, with their home office located in Dunsborough.

Naturaliste Charters now operates whale watching tours in Augusta and Dunsborough from May until November each year and killer whale tours from Bremer Bay from December to April each year.

This means they now operate all year around!

Book an Augusta Whale Watching Tour May-August

Book a Dunsborough Whale Watching Tour August-November

Busselton Whale Watching Tours now leave from Dunsborough

Humpback Whale breach Dunsborough WA — Humpback Whale breaching. Dunsborough whale watching season.

What Can you See During the Various Seasons

Therefore, whilst we may not be able to offer you a fishing charter, we can still take you out onto the ocean to view the variety of whales and cetaceous species that inhabit the waters off the Western Australian coast.

Bremer Bay: Season December until April – Varieties seen include Killer Whales, Dolphins, Pilot Whales, Giant Squid, Pelagic Bird species, Sea Lions, Sharks, Sperm Whale, Sunfish this is not limited to these species however.

Augusta: Season May until August – Varieties seen include Humpback Whales, Southern Right Whales, Dolphins, Pelagic Birds, Sharks this is not limited to these species however.

Dunsborough/ Busselton: Season May until November – Varieties seen include primarily Humpback Whales, Southern Right Whales, Blue Whales, Dolphins, Sharks and Pelagic Birds but this is not all that we may see from this location.

Book one of our bucket list tours here – https://legendcharters.net.au/book/

Whale Watching Augusta – Tuesday 24th July 2018

Posted on August 2, 2018 | by Legend Charters

As we cruised out this morning a competition pod was sighted immediately as we left the marina. Some good action between competing males, pec slapping and tail slapping, creating quite a stir in the water. We came across two more pods during the tour, and a lovely Southern Right whale and calf just off the beach.

Naturaliste Charters

by crew member Mark Jackman

Whale Watching Augusta – Friday 13th July

Posted on July 13, 2018 | by Legend Charters

You know you’ve had a fantastic day when your able to see 3 different species of cetaceans on one tour! Just this morning we saw over 20 Humpbacks, 3 Southern Rights (including a mother and a calf) as well as a pod of dolphins! The dolphins didn’t want to leave the whales alone weaving in and out of the first pod of spotted Humpbacks stealing our attention between each surface!

The sheer amount of blows lit up the bay leading us to our first competition pod for the day instantly. The group of 6 appeared to be charging through the bay surging from the east and creating their own bow waves by displacing 45 tonnes of water with each stroke. The pod of dolphins then appeared beside the whales ducking in and out of the narrow gaps between them.

The Southern Right whales (SRW) were found tucked into the corner where mum and bub were resting before making their journey further up the bay to the more protected waters of the reef. SRW’s that calve in Flinders bay do so very close to the shoreline in the corner of the bay before travelling out and resting in the reef. They’ll remain beside the reef for the duration of the season occasionally venturing out deeper into the bay to slowly introduce the calf to the conditions of the open ocean. The SRW calf, approximately a week old now would have been lifted on its mothers back for the first few days of its life to I inflate its lungs and teach It to breath. Now breathing on its own the week old calf is full of energy and playfully interacting with its mother, rolling in the shallows and creating its own little splash!

Until tomorrow

Naturaliste Charters

📹 by Marine Biologist Bianca Uyen

Whale Watching Augusta - Tuesday 1 July 2018

Whale Watching Augusta – Sunday 1st July

Posted on July 1, 2018 | by Legend Charters

We saw the shallowest travelling group of Humpbacks today in the morning tour exiting the marina and spotting the pod in the western nook of the bay. We headed over to them and followed behind as they made their way through the bay hugging the coastline, travelling in less than 5m of water. They were so close to shore that cars were stopping down the coastal Augusta drive towards the Cape Leeuwin lighthouse to get a photo! The competition pod of 6 narrowly avoided the marina turning towards us in the bay and slow passing our stern before they headed for the passage, our passengers just as shocked as the crew to see them so close to shore!

The afternoon topped it again hearing “Breaching whales!” called out by the skipper as we made our way out for the second tour of the day. The breaching duo was sighted on the horizon just over a mile from the harbour. They were close enough that we were able to motor out there and watch them breach at least 4 times up close. Throwing barrels in the air the whales used the momentum of their pec fins to perform 360-degree rolls in the air Impressing all those on board!!

Until tomorrow

Naturaliste Charters

📷 by Marine Biologist Bianca Uyen