Fall The humpbacks stay in the North until fall, alternately eating, resting and socializing until the urge to migrate becomes strong. The whales from the Southern hemisphere are just leaving the breeding grounds in the tropics and will soon be replaced by the Northern whale population. In this annual migration, humpbacks generally travel across vast expanses of open ocean. At home in thousands of feet of water, the whales ride and fight the strong ocean currents to reach their breeding grounds in the warm tropical waters. Copyright 2002 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form