AVILA BEACH, Calif. - Humpback whales are drawing hundred to Avila Beach but they're not just attracting tourists, they're also bringing in a lot of business to the central coast.
The whales are back in full force and feeding close to shore because of abundant upwelling of nutrients attracting their food source.
And they're not just attracting eyeballs. They're raking in a lot of dough for local businesses.
"Never seen this (kind of) activity out here in a lot of the years I've been working out here on the pier," said Pete's Pierside Cafe Manager Jay Auberry.
The whales are stopping by to feed along the central coast until they migrate down to Mexico.
And Auberry says he's seen business triple in the past ten days.
"Everyday has been like a weekend day for us out here. It starts first thing in the morning and stays all day until we close. I mean, everyone wants to get a close look at the whales," said Auberry.
His dinning room on the pier has become a hotspot. Just a few days ago he says he saw four whales as close as 20 feet from the pier.
"You don't have to go out on a boat to go whale watching. Just come to the pier. That's a nice change," says Auberry.
And people are driving from all over the coast and the country to see it.
"Yesterday, we saw a whale come out of the water and do some back flips. Woah! You don't see that everyday," said Chris Clayton.
Chris Clayton and his brother, Matthew came all the way from Santa Maria and though they had to sit through grid locked traffic, they're happy they came.
"It was totally worth it!" said Matthew Clayton.
And for Jay Auberry, that's good for business.
