Humpback Whales and Long-Beaked Common Dolphins in Monterey Bay

During our mid-day trip aboard Sanctuary, we encountered humpback whales actively feeding alongside fifty California sea lions in the open bay. As the wind increased and conditions became sporty, several humpbacks began leaping clear of the water, displaying energetic breaching behavior in the building chop.

Multi-species feeding events like this are typical when forage fish are forced toward the surface. California sea lions often work in tandem with humpback whales, using fast maneuvers to consolidate prey while the larger baleen whales scoop up the tightly packed fish.

Earlier on our morning trip, we logged a pod of forty-five long-beaked common dolphins moving through the area alongside fifteen humpback whales. As sea conditions degraded during the mid-day run, we made the call to head back to the harbor an hour early and ultimately canceled the afternoon trip.

Observing surface-active whales in rougher water is always a clear reminder of how quickly the weather can shift in Monterey Bay. Even with an abbreviated schedule, tracking these dynamic animal interactions provides great insight into their daily feeding patterns.