We surveyed west and then south during the night. Acoustics heard sperm
whales in the morning, and we launched the RHIBs. Visuals and acoustics
tracked 2-3 animals southward. One location-only S-tag was deployed. A
photo-id, but no biopsies were taken. Some rough toothed dolphins approached
RHIB-1, and photos were taken. Storm clouds were building all morning. Just
after lunch, there were rain showers in every direction around us.
One storm cloud was seen with a small water spout developing. Since there
were no other whales seen or heard in the area where we were or in the area
to our immediate north where we had been, we decided to put the RHIBs on
board Gyre, bring in the hydrophone arrays, take a CTD, and head for
Galveston.
Near sunset, we passed through an area where multiple schools of bonita
were observed, most were accompanied by a whale shark.
Our position at 22:10 local time is 27 12.55'N 95 42.36'W.
