Saturday, October 24, 2026
Changing fall conditions gave way to a mirror-like surface during our midday trip, setting the stage for a close encounter with a humpback whale. The whale approached Sanctuary and circled the boat twice, lingering near the surface and visually inspected those on board through clear water.
A total of fifteen humpback whales were spotted during our trips today. Small groups formed and broke apart continuously; two whales would sound (dive) together, four would break the surface nearby, and following dives would see them all solitary. Anchovy schools were deeper in the water column, extending the humpbacks' dive times.
During one of these lulls, an unexpected deep water find—a deceased ratfish—was spotted floating right at the surface. These mostly benthic creatures generally swim up in the water column only at night so it was an opportunity to get a look at a species that dates back 360 million years!
Along with viewing humpbacks, two trips spotted a pod of roughly 500 long-beaked common dolphins traveling leisurely until they sprinted to interact with our boat. A nursery pod amidst the larger pod delighted guests as the tiny grey, shoebox-sized baby dolphins swam at their mother's pectoral fins and occasionally leapt out of the water.
Conditions shifted across our morning, mid-day, and afternoon runs, ranging from light chop and wind to slick calm and back. Fall brings fresh breezes and an opportunity to view humpbacks as they prepare for migration to the breeding grounds of Mexico and Central America.
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