Humpback Whales and Common Dolphins Outside the Harbor

On our afternoon departure aboard Sanctuary, we encountered a massive pod of approximately two thousand long-beaked common dolphins alongside twelve humpback whales. This highly active multi-species aggregation was positioned remarkably close to shore, gathered just beyond the harbor buoys.

Having such a high concentration of both cetacean species so close to the harbor mouth typically points to a dense concentration of schooling forage fish, like northern anchovies, pushed shallow by the canyon's upwelling. Common dolphins are highly social, and seeing them in these numbers right on the shelf break is always a testament to the productivity of Monterey Bay.

Conditions on the bay were brisk, with a cool northwest wind blowing at 17.5 knots, creating choppy surface conditions. Despite the swell, we also noted about fifty sea lions resting near the harbor entrance and spotted a solitary ocean sunfish, or Mola mola, drifting near the surface, its dorsal fin flopping in the chop.

Watching these twelve humpbacks navigate the choppy waters alongside thousands of dolphins right at our doorstep is a reminder of how dynamic this marine sanctuary remains, even on windy summer afternoons.