A Humpback Breaches Alongside Long-Beaked Common Dolphins

Glassy surface conditions greeted us during this morning's trip aboard Sanctuary, setting an ideal backdrop for observation. The standout moment occurred when a massive pod of approximately one thousand long-beaked common dolphins surged through the area, surrounding a humpback whale that launched into a complete breach amidst the dolphin school.

Interspecific interactions between common dolphins and humpback whales offer valuable insight into local foraging dynamics. Long-beaked common dolphins often travel in high-density pods to herd small schooling fish like anchovies. When humpbacks feed in the same area, the sudden movement and localized noise of a dolphin pod can provoke reactive surface behavior from the larger baleen whales.

Following the breach, our morning trip yielded sightings of fourteen additional humpback whales scattered across the bay. Several individuals were actively subsurface feeding near the Monterey Canyon, taking advantage of rich forage in surface water temperatures around 62°F.

Days with calm seas and multi-species feeding aggregations highlight the ecological richness of Monterey Bay. Observing these distinct cetacean species share the same productive waters remains a steady reminder of the bay's dynamic ecosystem.