DANA POINT — Word got out Tuesday, July 24, that a white-, pink- and black-spotted dolphin known as Patches was back in the area, and local charter boats quickly made a beeline to the location of the first reported sighting.

The dolphin, first seen off Southern California in 2006 by naturalist Mark Tyson, was found by Capt. Mike Bursk aboard the Ocean Institute’s RV Sea Explorer just before 1 p.m. three miles off North Beach in San Clemente. Patches was frolicking in a pod of more than 100 offshore common bottlenose dolphins.

Patches seen off San Clemente on July 24. (Photo courtesy of the Ocean Institute)

Patches seen off Sana Clemente on Tuesday, July 24. (Photo courtesy of the Ocean Institute)

Patches is a unique dolphin with rare markings spotted off the Orange County Coast. (Photo courtesy of Ryan Lawler, Newport Coastal Adventure)

Patches has been seen sporatically the past decade off O.C., and was most recently spotted off Laguna Beach on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Ryan Lawler, Newport Coastal Adventure.

Patches observed off San Clemente on July 24. (Photo courtesy of Ocean Institute)



Barracuda being chased by common bottlenose dolphins with Patches off San Clemente on Tuesday, July 24. (Photo courtesy of Ocean Institute)

Patches, a piebald dolphin spotted off San Clemente on July 24. (Photo courtesy of Dana Wharf.com)

Patches, a common bottlenose dolphin, spotted off San Clemente on July 24 chasing barracuda. (Photo courtesy of the Ocean Institute)

Patches, a bottlenose dolphin with distinctive black and white speckles was spotted four miles off the coast of Dana Point on Monday, May 22. Patches was first spotted in the area in 2006. (Courtesy of Robin Lowe)

Patches, a bottlenose dolphin with distinctive black and white speckles was spotted four miles off the coast of Dana Point on Monday, May 22. Patches was first spotted in the area in 2006. (Courtesy of Robin Lowe)



Patches, a bottlenose dolphin with distinctive black and white speckles was spotted four miles off the coast of Dana Point on Monday, May 22. Patches was first spotted in the area in 2006. (Courtesy of Robin Lowe)

Patches, a bottlenose dolphin with distinctive black and white speckles was spotted four miles off the coast of Dana Point on Monday, May 22. Patches was first spotted in the area in 2006. (Courtesy of Robin Lowe)

He was later seen by Capt. Chuck Gathers on Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari’s Manutea and then by Capt. Steve Burkhalter on Dana Wharf’s Ocean Adventure.

Bursk, whose charter was loaded with youth taking part in a cetacean camp, radioed his find to other whale and dolphin charters in the area.

“This is a big thing,” said Bursk, who over nearly 20 years has seen Patches six to 10 times. “We see thousands of common dolphins every day and they all look alike. You don’t know who’s on their deathbed or who’s a new adult. Then you go from common dolphin to bottlenose which are rarer and you see a familiar face, it really makes you smile. To see Patches keep coming back, it’s like, hey, he’s sill alive.”

Many boat captains and their passengers have followed Patches’ activities over the years. Most recently, he was seen in March off the Channel Islands and in April off Marina del Rey.

On Tuesday, Patches was playful and came over to the Ocean Institute’s RV Sea Explorer, but what happened next surprised Bursk and his crew.

Patches was with a pod of dolphins spread out through the water in smaller groups of eight to 10. Suddenly, Patches darted across the surface and the other dolphins began behaving strangely.

When Bursk looked down he saw a school of migratory barracuda. Some of the three-foot-long fish appeared to be using the Sea Explorer’s hull as a place to hide.

“I’ve never had this happen in my life,” Bursk said. “They were terrified. The giant bottlenose were playing with them like they were Frisbee. There were at least two of them holding super still against my boat.”

Bursk said the cat-and-mouse game between the dolphins and the barracuda continued for about five minutes and then the dolphins proceeded to swim up the coast.

“I think they were cruising along and then just came across the migratory school of barracuda,” he said. “At the time I was really confused, especially because of how Patches behaved. They were definitely having fun. But catching barracuda isn’t easy, it’s like chasing a jackrabbit. When they catch them, they play with them. It’s like this prize. We didn’t see a single one get caught.”

Burkhalter heard about Bursk’s adventure and headed out to find Patches on the Ocean Adventure.

“I always tell people this is the most famous dolphin on the West Coast,” Burkhalter said. “It’s cool he’s been seen from San Diego to Central California. Every time I see him, he appears to be healthy and he’s always in a large group of dolphin.”

That group may be the same one he’s been swimming with for years, said Alisa Schulman Janiger, a marine biologist who first saw Patches in 2008.

“He’s so recognizable,” she said. “But it’s not just him, it’s also the group he’s with. Anytime you see a recognizable animal, it personalizes it. It’s a special thing.”