Five Killer Whales Hunt Sea Lions Near Monterey Harbor

Leaving the harbor on a clear morning with a light chop, we encountered a pod of transient killer whales just a mile offshore. We observed three of these individuals actively hunting two California sea lions, a predation event that we followed for over an hour. During the encounter, one of the killer whales surfaced directly alongside Sanctuary, exhaling a loud blow that sprayed those on deck. The three we started off with eventually merged with the rest of their pod, lead by Louise the matriarch.

These mammal-eating orcas, known as Bigg's transient killer whales, rely on quiet coordination and immense power to hunt marine mammals. Seeing them execute these natural behaviors so close to the harbor mouth provides a stark reminder of the active food web right at our doorstep.

Further offshore, we encountered a pod of approximately twenty-five Pacific white-sided dolphins. Moving away from the direction of the killer whales, the dolphins joined our vessel and began bow riding, keeping pace with us in the clear water.

It is always a privilege to witness these raw ecological interactions so close to shore. The contrast between the calculated focus of the hunting killer whales and the fluid, energetic response of the dolphins made for a remarkable morning on the bay.