I couldn't believe I saw so many dolphins so close up off Blackpool, they were happt to swim by my boat
“There must have been at least four of them and they were happy to swim close to the boat”
Gary Lovatt couldn’t believe his eyes when he was out fishing off Blackpool - and spotted a pod of dolphins happily swimming away around his boat.
The lifelong member of Blackpool Light Craft Club had taken the boat out from the club base at Starr Gate and was heading back to base after a relatively unsuccessful day’s fishing when he spotted the creatures swimming by.
“I’ve been going out in the boat for years and have spotted the dolphin locally occasionally - but never before in such numbers and so close up,” said Gary.
“There must have been at least four of them and they were happy to swim close to the boat, with one even performing a 360 degree dive out of the water at one stage.
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“They stuck with me for about 20 minutes as a sailed very slowly between South Pier and the Tower. They certainly knew I was there and seemed to be enjoying themselves.
“I was on my own so took some video before my phone ran out of charge. I went out the following day with my wife and son in the hope of seeing them again but no luck.”
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Gary, who lives in Marton and has recently been appointed membership secretary at the Light Craft Club, said he regularly sees seals off the Fylde coast but any previous sightings of dolphins were much rarer.
“To see bottlenose dolphins in this part of the world is even rarer but I’m sure that’s what these were,” he said.
“The weather conditions were perfect on the day which I’m sure would have tempted them but it is fascinating to think that they and maybe others are down there below the surface right on our doorstep.”
Bottlenose dolphins weigh an average of 300 kg (660 lb) and ccan reach a length of just over 4 m (13 ft).
Their colour is usually dark gray on the back and lighter grey on the flanks, but it can be bluish-grey, brownish-grey, or even nearly black, and is often darker on the backOlder dolphins sometimes have a few spots.
They can can live for more than 40 years. Females typically live five to 10 years longer than males, with some females exceeding 60 years.
Blackpool Light Craft Club has just started its new season, covering all water sports and activities and welcomes new members. Details at blcclub.co.uk