Lunge-Feeding Humpback Whales and Common Dolphins in Monterey Bay

As Sanctuary embarked on our 8:30 a.m. tour of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, groups of humpbacks were already active, lofting sunlit blows above the glassy water. We headed west toward an active feeding group, where we were joined by rafts of California sea lions and innumerable sea birds.

The humpbacks displayed a variety of surface feeding behaviors, including vertical and horizontal lunge feeds that sent silvery anchovies flying. Soon after, long-beaked common dolphins arrived to join the feast.

We were fortunate to reunite with the same feeding group of humpbacks during the 11:30 trip. While feeding activity had moved below the surface, our afternoon passengers were treated to multiple breaches and more dolphins. On the way back to harbor, we enjoyed a visit from a sunbathing adult mola mola, punctuating another amazing day of wildlife viewing on Monterey Bay.