When Brian Perry first saw whales basking in Hervey Bay's waters in 1987, during one of his chartered fishing tours, he thought they were "logs that moved".

Within five days the fisherman, who had recently moved to the area with his wife, Jill, and their three-month-old daughter, he had set up the region's first commercial whale watching tour.

Their first vessel the Tasman Venture, which they bought in 1986.

The Perrys sold the Hervey Bay Whale Watch business on Tuesday to friend John Peaker, who had helped the couple with their very first tour.

"Brian and John were in the plane spotting (whales) from the air, throwing toilet rolls out to show us the direction of travel," Mrs Perry said.