Gray whale makes a pit stop in Carlsbad lagoon

A young California gray whale swimming near Tamarack Beach Monday afternoon slowed traffic and drew more than 300 spectators before it disappeared in the waves a few hours later.

The healthy juvenile whale was first sighted around 2 p.m. and was estimated by SeaWorld San Diego researchers to be about 15 feet long and about 2,000 pounds.

SeaWorld scientists told Carlsbad officials that the whale was likely making its annual journey back north from Baja California. They said it is common for the marine mammals to take a break along the Southern California coastline to rest for up to a day in their journey north.

People line up on the bank of Agua Hedionda Lagoon to see a gray whale on Monday afternoon.

(Phil Diehl / San Diego Union-Tribune)

The whale could be seen from about 2 to 4 p.m. swimming back and forth under the bridge that crosses the entrance to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.

Just over 300 people lined the shoreline to watch and photograph the whale. Some of the spectators attempted to wade into the water to swim with the whale, but police and lifeguards told them get away because it was too dangerous, Carlsbad Fire Chief Mike Davis said.

To control traffic, a team of Carlsbad traffic police arrived to keep the flow moving until the whale swam out to sea around 4 p.m. and traffic returned to normal.

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com