Feeding Humpback Whale Aggregations and Bow-Riding Common Dolphins

The morning trip aboard Sanctuary encountered a significant gathering of humpback whales south of the canyon. We observed approximately 30 individuals concentrated in a small area, focused entirely on the dense bait balls below the surface. Despite the choppy sea state, the activity was visible from a distance as the whales broke the surface to feed.

These whales were part of a multi-species feeding event. Over 250 California sea lions and various seabirds worked the same schools of forage fish, pushing the bait toward the surface. This behavior allows humpbacks to utilize less energy while lunge-feeding, as the sea lions help to consolidate the fish into tight groups.

Our departure from the harbor was marked by a sighting of a mother sea otter and her pup, while our return journey was accompanied by a pod of long-beaked common dolphins. These dolphins spent several minutes bow-riding, utilizing the pressure wave of the boat to glide through the water with minimal effort.

Observing such a high concentration of marine life in a single area illustrates the seasonal productivity of the Monterey Bay canyon system.