Curious Humpback Whales Approach Ocean Spirit off Moss Landing

Check out the video from today Calm conditions greeted Ocean Spirit just outside Moss Landing this morning, where a substantial concentration of roughly forty humpback whales had moved into the nearshore waters. The most striking encounter came when an inquisitive humpback approached our vessel, circling steadily, passing directly beneath the hull, and spy-hopping alongside us, affording clear, eye-to-eye views.

Spy-hopping is an intentional behavior where a whale vertically lifts its head clear of the surface to inspect surroundings in air rather than underwater. At such close quarters, the whale's exhalations carried the distinct, pungent odor typical of cetaceans actively foraging on baitfish—an unmistakable sensory hallmark of productive feeding grounds.

This individual was part of a broader, multi-species feeding spectacle right in front of the harbor. Around the whales, approximately one hundred California sea lions coordinated with surface-feeding birds, including two hundred Sooty shearwaters, one hundred Brandt’s cormorants, one hundred common murres, and sixty brown pelicans. Further out, we also documented a pod of one hundred Risso's dolphins and an offshore Black-footed albatross.

Observing humpbacks engage with a drifting boat on their own terms offers valuable insight into their situational awareness. Days like this, marked by heavy feeding and quiet water, underscore just how concentrated the life along the canyon head can be.