Captain's Log

Surface-active humpback whales greeted us almost immediately after clearing the harbor mouth during our afternoon trip aboard Sanctuary. We observed fifteen humpbacks exhibiting energetic surface behaviors, including repeated breaches and forceful chin slaps, just outside the harbor entrance.

Chin slapping and breaching are prominent surface display behaviors often observed when whales are in close proximity to one another or moving through dynamic coastal waters. While the exact motivation for these displays can vary—ranging from acoustic signaling and social interaction to dislodging surface parasites—the physical impact produces a sharp sound that travels effectively both above and below the water.

Conditions across the bay were calm with a light chop, supported by a mild west-southwest breeze of 5.8 knots and air temperatures near 60°F. Working the same nearshore area alongside the humpbacks were fifty California sea lions scattered throughout the surface waters.

Observing such vigorous activity so close to shore offers a clear window into the daily movement and social dynamics of Monterey Bay's summer whale population.

Aboard Sanctuary for our morning trip, we encountered twenty humpback whales actively feeding alongside one hundred and fifty California sea lions, with activity concentrated from just outside the harbor mouth out toward Soquel Hole.

These feeding aggregations often form along the canyon edges where localized oceanographic features concentrate forage fish. Interspersed within these feeding zones, we observed Mola mola (ocean sunfish) drifting near the surface layer in the 62.8°F water, along with two sea otters resting closer inshore.

Conditions were choppy throughout the run, with a 4.3-foot swell and a light southerly wind. Despite the surface chop, the animals remained highly active, giving us steady observations of the humpbacks surfacing in close association with the sea lions.

Observing surface-basking sunfish in the same waters where humpbacks are actively foraging serves as a quiet reminder of the productivity fostered by Monterey Bay's submarine canyon system.

During our morning trip aboard Sanctuary, light fog and calm seas set a quiet backdrop for a prominent multi-species feeding event near Moss Landing. We encountered eight humpback whales working in tight association with an estimated 200 to 300 California sea lions to corral bait beneath the surface.

This cooperative feeding dynamic is typical in Monterey Bay when prey is concentrated in the upper water column. Humpbacks utilize physical movement and deep dives to drive school fish together, while sea lions dive around the perimeter, preventing the shoal from dispersing. Moving through the nearby waters, we also noted ten Risso's dolphins alongside a pod of long-beaked common dolphins navigating the quiet swell.

Overcast skies and calm water often produce ideal conditions for tracking blow plumes across the surface long before seeing the animals themselves. It was a grounded look at the rich productivity that defines the Moss Landing canyon edge.

During our mid-day trip aboard Sanctuary, we encountered six humpback whales working the waters directly in front of Moss Landing. Despite a light chop on the surface, conditions allowed for excellent observations as the whales surfaced regularly near the shore.

Moving amongst the humpbacks was a pod of long-beaked common dolphins. These coastal cetaceans are well-adapted to shallow nearshore waters and frequently associate with humpbacks around the head of the Monterey Submarine Canyon, where upwelled nutrients aggregate dense schools of forage fish.

Observing these two species utilizing the same productive stretch of water offers a reliable window into the functional ecology of the bay. We left the animals surfacing steadily against the backdrop of the coastline before heading back in.

During our mid-day private charter aboard Meridian, we came upon an impressive multi-species feeding frenzy in Monterey Bay. We observed fifteen humpback whales lunging through a dense bait ball, surrounded by approximately two hundred California sea lions actively feeding in the same concentrated patch of water.

Bait balls form as small schooling fish pack tightly together as a defensive response to predators approaching from below. Despite brisk northwest winds blowing at 21.4 knots and creating a light chop on the surface, the humpbacks and sea lions efficiently worked the school, surfacing repeatedly in the turbulent water.

Alongside the primary feeding activity, we had exceptional looks at a pod of forty-five long-beaked common dolphins. The pod moved steadily through the area in close formation, offering our guests clear views as the animals surfaced together in the chop.

Watching humpbacks, sea lions, and dolphins utilizing the same feeding area is a steady reminder of the productivity in Monterey Bay. Even as conditions grew sportier toward the end of our run, the bay offered an instructive look at its rich dynamic food web.

Right outside the harbor, both our morning and mid-day trips aboard Sanctuary were greeted by immediate marine mammal activity. We observed twenty-two humpback whales scattered near the harbor entrance, accompanied by a energetic pod of one hundred and fifty long-beaked common dolphins.

Several of the common dolphins detached from the main pod to bow-ride alongside our vessel. This draft-riding behavior allows dolphins to conserve energy by riding the hydrodynamic force created by the boat's hull, offering a clear view of their distinct crisscross color patterns against the surface.

Conditions were brisk across both departures, with northwest winds averaging 23.3 knots at the Monterey Canyon buoy and air temperatures hovering around 61°F. Having such a high concentration of humpbacks and dolphins working close to shore allowed us to spend quality time observing their behavior while remaining sheltered from the harsher seas farther out in the bay.

It is always a privilege to watch these species interact so close to home. Even when conditions turn windy, the biological richness of Monterey Bay continues to deliver exceptional observations right at our doorstep.

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.

Our trip aboard Ocean Spirit into the outer pelagic waters offered a focused observation of mammal-eating killer whales in action. For over an hour, we tracked the CA140Bs and CA50B—known groups of Bigg's transient killer whales—as they actively hunted common dolphins.

The encounter was a classic demonstration of coordinated hunting behavior. The killer whales worked systematically to isolate a smaller group of common dolphins from an enormous main herd estimated at fifteen hundred animals. Once separated from the safety of the dense pod, the dolphins were pursued in open water as the killer whales maintained continuous pressure.

With seven passengers aboard Ocean Spirit today, having the time and space to observe this natural predatory dynamic unfold provided a clear, detailed look into pelagic food web interactions.

On our mid-day departure aboard Ocean Spirit, we witnessed an extraordinary and intense predation event just over the rim of the Monterey Submarine Canyon. A pod of seven Bigg's killer whales was actively hunting a group of fifteen long-beaked common dolphins, executing high-speed ramming strikes that launched both predator and prey entirely out of the water.

The killer whales were identified as members of the CA140B family group, also known as "Louise's pod," accompanied by the well-known adult male CA151, "Jimmy." Unlike fish-eating killer whales, these Bigg's orcas are marine mammal specialists. They rely on stealth and immense physical force to hunt, using their multi-ton bodies to ram and stun fast-moving dolphins at the surface.

Conditions on the bay were remarkably calm, with a light northwest wind of 9.7 knots and a water temperature of 57.2°F. This flat surface allowed our passengers aboard the Ocean Spirit to clearly observe the hunt. In addition to the orcas, we also encountered twelve humpback whales feeding in the nutrient-rich waters nearby, drawn by the same seasonal abundance that brings the dolphins into the bay.

Seeing a predation event of this scale is a stark reminder of the raw, trophic dynamics of Monterey Bay. While these encounters can be difficult to watch, they represent the natural ecological balance of a healthy, functioning marine sanctuary.

Our mid-day departure aboard Sanctuary enjoyed exceptionally calm, clear conditions today, with light northwest winds of just under six knots. The highlight of the trip occurred just outside of Moss Landing, where we encountered a group of fifteen humpback whales. Among them was a well-known local resident, "Flopsy," who, along with several companions, treated us to consistent, high-angle fluke displays as they initiated deeper feeding dives.

These deep dives indicate the whales were targeting dense schools of small forage fish or krill down in the submarine canyon. When humpbacks raise their tail flukes high above the water's surface, it helps them angle their bodies downward for a steeper, more efficient descent into the deeper, nutrient-rich layers of the bay.

Further offshore, the surface of the bay came alive with a highly active multi-species feeding association. We observed a massive pod of long-beaked common dolphins, estimated at over a thousand individuals, traveling and socializing alongside approximately fifty California sea lions. The sea lions and dolphins often feed cooperatively, utilizing their combined speed to herd baitfish toward the surface. It was also a pleasure to see our sister vessel, Ocean Spirit, operating nearby on the water.

With water temperatures holding steady at 56.1°F, the productivity of the Monterey Canyon remains highly evident. Observing these complex interspecies dynamics under such calm, glassy conditions is a reminder of how vital this deep-water habitat is to both resident and migratory marine mammals.