Captain's Log

Under remarkably calm, glassy conditions on Monterey Bay, our morning departure aboard Sanctuary was treated to a striking contrast in cetacean behavior. We observed fifteen humpback whales resting quietly at the surface alongside a highly energetic pod of approximately two hundred long-beaked common dolphins.

The humpbacks were in a state of rest often referred to as "logging," floating motionless in the 60.3°F water with only their blowholes and upper backs exposed. This slow, energy-conserving state contrasted sharply with the nearby common dolphins, which were actively feeding on schools of northern anchovies, their movements churning the flat surface as they worked together to corral the baitfish.

As we drifted quietly in the light 3.9-knot westerly breeze, a subgroup of the dolphin pod detached to ride our bow wave. This bow-riding behavior is a common social and energy-efficient activity for these smaller delphinids, utilizing the pressure wave created by Sanctuary's hull to glide effortlessly through the water.

Observing these two species side-by-side highlights the diverse ecological strategies at play in the bay. While the dolphins utilized the calm morning to hunt actively, the humpbacks chose the same quiet conditions to conserve their energy, reminding us of the balanced rhythms of life in these rich canyon waters.

Under clear skies and comfortable summer conditions, our morning and mid-day runs aboard Sanctuary were highlighted by the sight of eight humpback whales actively vertical lunge-feeding. We observed several individuals breaking the surface vertically with their mouths wide open, engulfing large volumes of water and prey.

Vertical lunge-feeding is a highly coordinated, energetic feeding strategy. Humpbacks use their expandable throat grooves, or ventral pleats, to balloon their mouths around schools of small forage fish. Seeing them propel their massive bodies straight up through the water column requires immense power and precise timing.

Conditions on the bay were favorable today, with a light west-northwest wind of 9.7 knots and a gentle 5.2-foot swell at a 9-second period. The water temperature hovered at 60.3°F. Across both the morning and mid-day departures, the combination of a light chop and clear visibility made it easy to spot the whales' tall blows and follow their feeding patterns.

Observing these large baleen whales feeding so dynamically close to the surface is a reminder of the rich productivity of the Monterey Canyon. It is always a privilege to watch these seasoned ocean travelers during their summer feeding season.

On this quiet July morning, the bay was exceptionally still, with glassy, near-windless conditions and water temperatures holding at 59.5°F. Just off Aptos, we encountered three humpback whales resting at the surface, a behavior often referred to as "logging" due to how motionless the whales appear.

Unlike humans, cetaceans are voluntary breathers and must remain conscious to breathe. When resting, they shut down one hemisphere of their brain at a time while keeping the other alert enough to control breathing and monitor their surroundings. These three individuals floated quietly, their dark backs breaking the surface occasionally as they exhaled in soft, low blows.

Operating on our morning trip aboard Sanctuary, the lack of wind—measured at just 1.9 knots at the canyon buoy—made it easy to track the whales without disturbing them. We kept a respectful distance, drifting with the engines in neutral, allowing our passengers to hear the slow, rhythmic respirations echoing across the flat water.

Observing whales in this state is a reminder of the quiet, daily rhythms of marine life that occur just beyond the surf line. It is a privilege to witness these large mammals in such a vulnerable, peaceful state before they resume their active feeding cycles.

Our morning departure aboard Sanctuary encountered exceptionally calm, glassy waters, providing ideal conditions for tracking a pod of nine killer whales just outside the harbor. As the first vessel on the water at 8:00 a.m., we spent nearly an hour alone with these apex predators as they hunted California sea lions. The group included the well-known adult males "Jimmy" and "Bumper," who exhibited highly coordinated predatory behavior, at one point pursuing a sea lion that attempted to use our stationary hull as shelter.

This close-quarters encounter offered a clear look at the tactical intelligence of mammal-eating killer whales. When hunting, these family groups rely on stealth and sudden, cooperative bursts of speed. Later, during our mid-day trip, we located the same pod and observed a distinct shift in their behavior. The predatory focus gave way to social and play states, with the whales engaging in repetitive breaching and tail-slapping across the flat surface of the bay.

The calm conditions persisted into the afternoon, with water temperatures holding at 59.5°F and virtually no wind. On our final run, we shifted focus to the canyon edge where we encountered six humpback whales. The whales were actively lunge-feeding on a dense bait ball of anchovies, working alongside California sea lions to corral the school near the surface.

Observing both the apex predators and the baleen whales exploiting different trophic levels in a single day highlights the immense seasonal productivity of the Monterey Submarine Canyon. It is a grounded reminder of how quickly energy moves through this temperate marine ecosystem when conditions align.

Our morning departure aboard Sanctuary took us out into a moderate chop, where we encountered four humpback whales active in the bay. Despite the wind-roughened surface, the tall, bushy blows of these baleen whales were highly visible, rising several meters into the cool morning air.

The whales were moving steadily, demonstrating the methodical dive profiles typical of humpbacks when they are searching for schooling forage like anchovies or krill. In choppy conditions, whales often adjust their surfacing intervals, taking several quick breaths before raising their flukes for a deeper descent into the water column.

This single morning trip allowed us to track the small group as they worked a localized area of the bay. Observing these animals in less-than-glassy conditions offers a clear look at their power and adaptability, as they navigate the swell with apparent ease.

Today brought some of the most concentrated feeding activity we have seen so far this season, with an estimated seventy humpback whales active in the bay. Despite a persistent light chop and a heavy 8.5-foot swell, we encountered massive bait balls of anchovies being heavily exploited by both whales and approximately five hundred California sea lions.

The whales were engaged in intense lunge-feeding, a highly energetic foraging behavior where they engulf entire schools of baitfish from below. This cooperative multi-species feeding frenzy also attracted harbor porpoises, which darted through the edges of the activity, capitalizing on the disoriented anchovies.

We observed this dramatic lunge-feeding behavior across all three of our scheduled trips today. On the mid-day run, we received an additional treat when five coastal bottlenose dolphins joined Sanctuary near the harbor mouth, riding our bow wave as we made our transit back inside.

With water temperatures holding at 59.7°F, these rich, nutrient-filled waters are drawing in incredible numbers of forage fish. As we move further into the summer, these conditions suggest we are entering what promises to be some of the most consistent and productive whale watching of the year.

Our morning run aboard Sanctuary encountered an exceptional wildlife event in Monterey Bay, highlighted by an encounter with twelve killer whales actively foraging. After receiving a radio report, we located the well-known CA51A pod along with the adult male CA50B, known as "Jimmy," feeding on sea lions and displaying high-energy breaching behavior.

These transient, or Bigg's, killer whales are mammal-eating specialists. Observing CA50B traveling and hunting alongside the CA51As provides a clear look into the fluid social dynamics of these apex predators. The sheer power of these animals is always remarkable to witness, especially when they engage in coordinated hunts and surface-active behaviors in the light chop.

Earlier in the trip, we spent time at the Soquel Hole, where we observed a massive aggregation of thirty-two humpback whales. The whales were concentrated in a heavy feeding group, capitalizing on abundant schools of anchovies. A large raft of California sea lions joined the feeding activity, creating a highly active zone of multi-species foraging.

With northwest winds at 11.7 knots and a water temperature of 58.3°F, the bay's productive upwelling canyon system continues to support these dense concentrations of marine life. It remains a privilege to observe these complex food web interactions firsthand.

We headed north toward Santa Cruz on this morning's run aboard Sanctuary, encountering a group of eight humpback whales traveling through moderately choppy waters. Despite the wind-chop, the blows were highly visible against the horizon, allowing us to track their movements as they moved steadily through the northern bay.

Accompanying the whales were five California sea lions, likely capitalizing on the same bait schools the humpbacks were targeting. At this time of year, these waters are rich with small schooling fish, drawing both pinnipeds and cetaceans into loose feeding associations where they exploit the same localized food resources.

As we returned toward the harbor, we noted a welcome sight in Moss Landing: the historic vessel Western Flyer has returned to port after being away since April. Seeing this landmark vessel back in local waters adds a nice touch of maritime history to our daily observations on the bay.

The choppy conditions today reminded us of the dynamic nature of Monterey Bay, where wind, water temperature, and coastal geography constantly shape the movements of the marine life we study.

We experienced exceptionally calm sea conditions on the bay today, providing excellent visibility for our morning runs aboard Sanctuary. We encountered a total of twelve humpback whales actively feeding throughout the morning, with several individuals operating in close proximity.

The whales were focused on dense bait schoolings below the surface. Humpbacks in Monterey Bay during the summer months rely heavily on these nutrient-rich waters to forage on schooling fish, utilizing their baleen plates to filter massive quantities of food.

Across our morning trips, the calm water allowed us to track the animals easily by their prominent blows and the glassy surface patches left by their flukes, known as fluke prints.

Watching these twelve individuals work the bay under such quiet, glassy conditions is a reminder of how productive this marine sanctuary remains throughout the summer feeding season.