One summer in the mid-60s I worked on an albacore boat out of San Pedro, Cal. The captain would make us leave the deck if he caught sight of a killer whale’s fin. He claimed to know fishermen whose boats were attacked by killer whales. In one case the fisherman climbed the mast to keep out of the whale’s reach.
Now, I have no idea if his stories were true or not—all fishermen are known for tall tales. But I’ve never bought into the idea that killer whales were pretty much harmless to humans. I think they got their name for a good reason.
Killer whales were aptly named, dolphins aren’t friendly either. You are a soft sweet treat to one and a floaty torture it toy to the other.