Avalon's famed flying fish are back at Catalina Island. Every summer the flying fish migrate to the kelp-rich waters surrounding the island, where they spawn and play through the season. Catalina opened the season this year with its First Annual Flying Fish Festival.

Friday night my daughter and I took the Catalina Express out of Long Beach for the one hour cruise to Avalon. We gathered on the Green Pier along with dozens of other festivators to watch Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner, the granddaughter of William Wrigley, Jr., rechristen the flying fish tour boat named in her honor.

The Blanche W was put to sea by her grandfather when Blanche was three years old. The 98-passenger, open-air boat has been used for flying fish tours around Avalon since 1924. Blanche, or Blanny as she is affectionately known, was on hand to slap the champagne against the hull to rechristen the vessel after a complete refurbishing and certification by the US Coast Guard.

All set to launch, we boarded and motored north out of Avalon Harbor. A spotter uses WWI-era search lights to scan the water, luring the fish into the high beams. We'd just gotten past the harbor when we saw the first amazing flight. These streamlined, turquoise blue beauties really fly. They leap out of the water, their side fins fluttering like butterfly wings as they shoot across the surface of the water. Some fly for upwards of 100 yards.

Alas, those darn flying fish are hard to photograph in the dark, despite the bright search lights. I didn't get a single good shot. Here is a terrific shot taken by a NOAA reseacher in 2005.

Catalina Island is an easy and affordable getaway for Southern Californians. Be sure to check the Catalina Chamber website for specials that include Catalina Express and hotel packages.

Photo above: Blanche Wrigley Schreiner with Avalon's mascot, Gil the Flying Fish.

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