During the whaling era, whales were hunted to near extinction. On May 25, 1895, a man named Captain Scammon discovered a nursing and breeding ground, naming it Magdalena Bay. Whalers began to flock from all over the world to capture these creatures—but it wasn’t easy. In these treacherous shallow waters of the lagoon, the grey whale earned its name Devil Fish. The whales were so aggressive with their harpooners that they would ram their boats, sinking them and drowning those on board.

In 1940s, grey whale population decreased and commercial whaling finally stopped in the area. However, the “Devil Fish” continued to haunt the local fisherman. One day, in 1970, a female grey whale approached a local fishing boat. Despite their monsterous reputation, local legend says that one of the fisherman reached out his hand towards the whale and touched it. The whale lifted her head and placed it against the fisherman’s hand—a gesture of understanding and peace between human and nature.

Over the years, this proverbial and symbolic event has transformed to a unique bond between the grey whales and the local fishermen. Whales have been seen greeting the local fisherman boats the moment they enter the lagoons. Mothers bring in their curious calves and even encourage them to interact with humans—from putting on a show of tail flapping and spy hopping, to swimming right up to the boat and raising their head to be petted. Meanwhile, local fishermen have shifted their attitudes and their livelihoods. As whale watching guides, they developed cooperatives amongst their communities to protect the whales In the lagoon. From whale hunters to whale defenders, Mag Bay carries a beautiful story of hope and regeneration.