Wednesday, September 16, 2026
A complex multi-species interaction unfolded just outside Moss Landing today aboard Sanctuary. Members of the CA51 transient killer whale matriline, specifically Aurora's pod (CA51A), were observed actively hunting long-beaked common dolphins in light chop. Nearby, adult male Jimmy (CA50B), Andi (CA51A2), and her calf Astrid (CA51A2A) pursued a California sea lion while a dense group of humpback whales moved in to interfere with the predators.
Interference behavior by humpback whales during Bigg's killer whale hunts is a well-documented occurrence in Monterey Bay. Humpbacks regularly approach active predation events, placing their multi-ton bodies between the orcas and their target while emitting loud, low-frequency blows. The acoustic and physical presence of the humpbacks disrupted the orcas' coordinated pursuit, set against a broader backdrop of roughly 250 common dolphins scattering across the area.
The dynamic conditions spanned both departures, totaling 45 humpback whales and seven killer whales. Our morning trip concluded quietly with several curious humpbacks approaching and remaining alongside our drifting vessel. The mid-day trip shifted back to high energy, featuring powerful lunge-feeding through bait schools alongside repeated breaching.
With water temperatures holding around 60.8°F over the canyon, late-summer foraging remains in full swing. Seeing apex predators, delphinids, and baleen whales cross paths so closely provides an unvarnished look at the ecological tensions that define this bay.