Hundreds of Common Dolphins and Humpbacks off Moss Landing

Dolphins stole the show in front of Moss Landing today during the morning trip. This large pod of about 750 long-beaked common dolphins fed alongside the humpbacks as well as entertaining passengers with their leaps and somersaults. While the pod had moved a few miles west by our second trip, these aerial acrobats continued to bow-ride, wake-ride and porpoise out of the water just like in the morning.

Humpback whales were also in the area. Our morning departure logged seven individuals working the waters outside the harbor mouth and beyond. Activity increased further on the second trip, where we recorded a dozen humpbacks feeding in the vicinity. As the afternoon wind and swell picked up, several younger humpbacks became active, tail-lobbing and breaching.

Observing such a sizable dolphin pod feeding in the area alongside humpback whales emphasizes how productive the Monterey Submarine Canyon is at this time of year.