A large dead whale washed up over the weekend at a world-renowned surf beach near San Clemente, and the sight was drawing spectators to the ocean on Monday.
Professional surfer Kelly Slater posted a photo of the whale’s carcass on Instagram on Sunday evening, suggesting it would keep the crowds in the water to a minimum at Lower Trestles.
The location — at San Onofre State Beach, just south of the Orange County line — is the site of multiple annual surf competitions.
“A mile or two south and we probably wouldn’t take nearly as much notice. Good summer to surf the wave pool,” Slater wrote, referring to his project in Central California.
Dozens of curious beachgoers came out Monday to take a look at the whale, and marine biologists were taking tissue samples from the giant mammal for later testings.
“The fin up … is pretty cool to see even though it’s under bad circumstances,” said mother Julia Hubberman, who took two children to see the whale.
Video posted by another user on Instagram showed waves crashing against the whale Sunday afternoon.
A boat captain for Dana Wharf Sportfishing told the Orange County Register he had seen the whale at Trestles and another whale that he expected to wash up at San Clemente State Beach — with both marine mammals longer than 40 feet.
Capt. Todd Mansur told the newspaper that the whale at Trestles didn’t look like it had been dead for more than a day.
The whale was going to be removed by lifeguards at high tide, Mansur told KTLA.