Captain's Log

On our mid-day departure aboard Ocean Spirit, we witnessed an extraordinary and intense predation event just over the rim of the Monterey Submarine Canyon. A pod of seven Bigg's killer whales was actively hunting a group of fifteen long-beaked common dolphins, executing high-speed ramming strikes that launched both predator and prey entirely out of the water.

The killer whales were identified as members of the CA140B family group, also known as "Louise's pod," accompanied by the well-known adult male CA151, "Jimmy." Unlike fish-eating killer whales, these Bigg's orcas are marine mammal specialists. They rely on stealth and immense physical force to hunt, using their multi-ton bodies to ram and stun fast-moving dolphins at the surface.

Conditions on the bay were remarkably calm, with a light northwest wind of 9.7 knots and a water temperature of 57.2°F. This flat surface allowed our passengers aboard the Ocean Spirit to clearly observe the hunt. In addition to the orcas, we also encountered twelve humpback whales feeding in the nutrient-rich waters nearby, drawn by the same seasonal abundance that brings the dolphins into the bay.

Seeing a predation event of this scale is a stark reminder of the raw, trophic dynamics of Monterey Bay. While these encounters can be difficult to watch, they represent the natural ecological balance of a healthy, functioning marine sanctuary.

Our mid-day departure aboard Sanctuary enjoyed exceptionally calm, clear conditions today, with light northwest winds of just under six knots. The highlight of the trip occurred just outside of Moss Landing, where we encountered a group of fifteen humpback whales. Among them was a well-known local resident, "Flopsy," who, along with several companions, treated us to consistent, high-angle fluke displays as they initiated deeper feeding dives.

These deep dives indicate the whales were targeting dense schools of small forage fish or krill down in the submarine canyon. When humpbacks raise their tail flukes high above the water's surface, it helps them angle their bodies downward for a steeper, more efficient descent into the deeper, nutrient-rich layers of the bay.

Further offshore, the surface of the bay came alive with a highly active multi-species feeding association. We observed a massive pod of long-beaked common dolphins, estimated at over a thousand individuals, traveling and socializing alongside approximately fifty California sea lions. The sea lions and dolphins often feed cooperatively, utilizing their combined speed to herd baitfish toward the surface. It was also a pleasure to see our sister vessel, Ocean Spirit, operating nearby on the water.

With water temperatures holding steady at 56.1°F, the productivity of the Monterey Canyon remains highly evident. Observing these complex interspecies dynamics under such calm, glassy conditions is a reminder of how vital this deep-water habitat is to both resident and migratory marine mammals.

Our morning charter aboard Ocean Spirit was highlighted by an exceptionally close encounter with three curious humpback whales. While observing a larger group of ten humpbacks in the bay, these three individuals detached from the pod and swam directly to our vessel, lingering just a few feet away to investigate us. The low profile of Ocean Spirit offered an intimate, eye-level perspective as these multi-ton animals slowly maneuvered alongside.

This type of approach, often referred to as friendly behavior, is a classic demonstration of humpback curiosity. When whales choose to initiate contact, they display remarkable spatial awareness, carefully controlling their movements near the boat. Nearby, a highly active feeding frenzy was underway, centered around a dense bait ball. Approximately fifty California sea lions and a massive school of eighteen hundred long-beaked common dolphins worked the bait, driving fish toward the surface.

The morning conditions were typical for mid-July, with a stiff northwest wind of 19.4 knots creating a light chop across the bay. Buoy 46042 recorded a cool water temperature of 54.5°F. Despite the breeze, the high concentration of marine life kept our focus entirely on the water, where the sheer volume of the dolphin pod stretched across the horizon.

Spending decades on these waters teaches us that every encounter is dictated entirely by the animals' choices. Today's quiet, mutual look between species reminds us of the privilege we have to share this dynamic ecosystem with them.

On our afternoon departure aboard Sanctuary, we encountered a massive pod of approximately two thousand long-beaked common dolphins alongside twelve humpback whales. This highly active multi-species aggregation was positioned remarkably close to shore, gathered just beyond the harbor buoys.

Having such a high concentration of both cetacean species so close to the harbor mouth typically points to a dense concentration of schooling forage fish, like northern anchovies, pushed shallow by the canyon's upwelling. Common dolphins are highly social, and seeing them in these numbers right on the shelf break is always a testament to the productivity of Monterey Bay.

Conditions on the bay were brisk, with a cool northwest wind blowing at 17.5 knots, creating choppy surface conditions. Despite the swell, we also noted about fifty sea lions resting near the harbor entrance and spotted a solitary ocean sunfish, or Mola mola, drifting near the surface, its dorsal fin flopping in the chop.

Watching these twelve humpbacks navigate the choppy waters alongside thousands of dolphins right at our doorstep is a reminder of how dynamic this marine sanctuary remains, even on windy summer afternoons.

We began our day aboard Sanctuary under calm, glassy morning conditions just outside the harbor, where we were immediately met by a massive, highly active pod of over two thousand long-beaked common dolphins. The sheer volume of dolphins, accompanied by several humpback whales feeding nearby, created a remarkable spectacle close to shore.

During our mid-day departure, joined by students from Camp Sea Lab, we observed humpbacks engaging in energetic lunge-feeding. This behavior occurs when whales engulf large volumes of prey-laden water, using their expandable throat pleats to filter out small schooling fish. A feeding frenzy of fifty California sea lions and three Risso's dolphins was also present, capitalizing on the dense bait balls beneath the surface.

By afternoon, the northwest winds picked up to over 21 knots, creating choppy seas. While the rougher conditions shortened our final run, the change in weather coincided with a dramatic shift in behavior; we observed multiple humpback whales breaching and tail-slapping repeatedly through the swell.

Observing how these animals adapt their behaviors—from systematic feeding in the morning calm to high-energy surface displays as the afternoon wind rises—is a constant reminder of the dynamic nature of Monterey Bay.

Our morning departure aboard Sanctuary departed into exceptionally calm, glassy conditions today, which set the stage for an extraordinary encounter. Not far into the bay, we came across a group of five humpback whales. A few of these individuals began swimming directly toward us, eventually lingering right alongside our vessel in what is colloquially known as a "mugging."

When humpback whales approach a stationary vessel this closely, they are demonstrating a keen, self-directed curiosity. With the water so still, we could clearly observe their massive pectoral fins and head tubercles just beneath the surface as they slowly turned and blew right next to the boat, showing a calm awareness of our presence.

This single morning trip provided our passengers and crew with an unhurried, up-close look at these giant baleen whales in their natural habitat. Spending quiet time with these five individuals under such pristine sea conditions is a poignant reminder of the rich life that thrives just off our coast.

Operating in the stiff northwest winds that frequently sweep across the bay in July, our trips aboard Sanctuary today encountered challenging but rewarding conditions. The highlight was a single humpback whale utilizing the rough, choppy seas to its advantage, actively surfing down the faces of the large swells. This dynamic behavior is a remarkable display of these massive animals using the surface energy of the water to conserve effort while traveling.

Alongside this surfing whale, we observed a highly active multi-species gathering. Approximately 250 long-beaked common dolphins and 200 California sea lions were working the surface waters, likely targeting schools of small coastal pelagic fish. Interestingly, the historic vessel Western Flyer was also out in the bay, sharing the water with this concentrated group of feeding marine mammals.

Across our morning, mid-day, and afternoon departures, the elements remained consistently demanding. Buoy 46042 near the canyon rim recorded sustained northwest winds of 21.4 knots and a cool water temperature of 59.9°F. Navigating these rough seas required patience, but the high activity level of the five humpbacks we tracked throughout the day kept our focus sharp.

Days like today remind us that Monterey Bay is a wild, highly productive environment. Even when the wind picks up and the surface turns white with foam, the resident wildlife continues its daily routines of feeding and traveling, entirely at home in the chop.

Our afternoon run aboard Sanctuary took a compelling turn just as we were wrapping up. We received a radio call reporting killer whales near the mile buoy. Upon arrival, we encountered nine orcas from the well-known CA50 pod, including recognizable individuals Orion, Star, and Bumper, actively feeding on sea lions.

This particular matriline of transient, or mammal-eating, killer whales is known for its highly coordinated hunting strategies. Watching these apex predators work in unison in the choppy waters provides a clear look at their cooperative foraging behavior. The presence of Orion, Star, and Bumper—individuals we have documented in these waters for years—highlights the consistency of these family groups within the Monterey Bay ecosystem.

Conditions on the bay were challenging, with a stiff northwest wind blowing at 21.4 knots and rough, building seas. Earlier days trips, we also observed four humpback whales holding just offshore. These baleen whales traveled steadily through the whitecaps, keeping close to the coast to avoid the heavier swells further out.

Days like today remind us of the raw, unpredictable nature of the bay. Even when the weather turns rough, the intersection of these powerful marine predators and massive baleen whales just outside the harbor offers a humbling glimpse into the active food webs of this marine sanctuary.

On our mid-day trip aboard Sanctuary, we navigated a light northwest chop to find a highly active feeding frenzy at the area locally known as the "shark park." Here, we observed twelve humpback whales aggressively lunge-feeding on a dense bait ball, their massive ventral pleats expanding as they broke the surface to engulf seawater and prey.

This energetic multi-species feeding event also drew in a pod of approximately two hundred long-beaked common dolphins. Humpbacks and common dolphins often exploit the same bait schools; the fast-moving dolphins help corral the fish near the surface, which inadvertently sets up the perfect opportunity for the whales to lunge through the concentrated bait ball.

In addition to the high-energy feeding activity, we were fortunate to get clear looks at three harbor porpoises. Harbor porpoises are among the shyest cetaceans in Monterey Bay, typically avoiding vessels and appearing only briefly as small, dark shapes that slice through the water without the dramatic surface behavior of their dolphin cousins.

With the water temperature holding at 60.1°F and clear skies overhead, today's encounter offered a perfect window into the complex food webs that make the Monterey Canyon such a productive ecosystem during the summer months.

On our mid-day run aboard Meridian, we bypassed our recent search areas to the north after receiving a tip from land. Just a mile off the Cement Ship, we encountered a group of eight humpback whales engaged in a highly energetic vertical surface lunge-feeding event.

Vertical lunge-feeding is a coordinated feeding strategy where whales push straight up through schooling forage fish, engulfing massive quantities of water and prey in their expandable throat grooves before filtering it through their baleen plates. Seeing this intense behavior so close to the shoreline is always a remarkable demonstration of the bay's productive nearshore ecosystem.

After watching the feeding event, we navigated into shallower waters nearby—an area known for seasonal juvenile white shark activity. Under a light chop, we successfully located two six-foot white sharks swimming slowly through the shallows, bringing our total sightings for the afternoon to ten humpback whales and two sharks.

This transition from deep-water cetaceans to nearshore predators highlights the dynamic nature of Monterey Bay. It serves as a reminder that these animals do not follow human schedules, and our success often relies as much on community collaboration as it does on our own eyes on the water.