Captain's Log

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.

Our morning departure aboard Sanctuary encountered a highly active feeding group of eight humpback whales in the bay. Despite a light chop on the water, we easily located the whales by the massive gathering of approximately two hundred California sea lions sharing the bait ball.

The most compelling behavior today was the frequent vertical lunge-feeding. This energetic foraging strategy occurs when humpbacks accelerate upward through a dense school of small schooling fish, breaking the surface with their pleats expanded to engulf massive quantities of food and water before filtering it through their baleen.

Operating in close coordination with the sea lions, the whales repeatedly lunged vertically, providing us with clear views of their rostrum and ventral pleats. Seeing these two species exploit the same food source so efficiently is a testament to the productivity of the Monterey Canyon's nutrient-rich waters during the summer feeding season.

Our sunset departure aboard Sanctuary was met with rough, choppy conditions, but we did not have to travel far for our first encounter. Just outside the harbor mouth, a young humpback whale—one of three we would observe during the evening—was actively lunge feeding, breaking the surface to filter feed on schooling forage fish.

Lunge feeding is a highly energetic behavior typical of younger humpbacks capitalizing on rich coastal food sources. By accelerating rapidly from below, these whales engulf massive volumes of water and prey, utilizing their expandable throat pleats before using their baleen plates to strain out the water.

Pushing further out toward the deep waters of the Monterey Canyon, we encountered a highly active group of approximately 40 Pacific white-sided dolphins. They were traveling alongside a large aggregation of about 110 California sea lions, both species likely drawn to the same concentrated bait balls in the choppy seas, with winds holding out of the south at 11.7 knots.

Observing these multi-species feeding associations near the canyon edge is always a reminder of Monterey Bay's immense productivity. Even on rougher evenings, the convergence of deep canyon waters and coastal currents creates a highly reliable engine for marine life.

The morning run aboard Sanctuary provided a truly exceptional series of sightings, highlighted by the rare appearance of a deep-diving sperm whale over the Monterey Canyon. To observe a sperm whale in the bay is uncommon, but today we were treated to its distinct angled blow and a clean fluke-up dive as it descended to forage in the deep trench.

In addition to the sperm whale, the morning trip yielded sightings of a fin whale and two blue whales—the largest animals on earth, drawn to the bay by dense aggregations of krill. We also observed five humpback whales throughout the day, some of which exhibited energetic breaching behavior, and a pod of four orcas navigating the deeper waters.

Across our morning, mid-day, and afternoon trips, conditions shifted from calm seas to a light chop under a gentle 5.8-knot southerly breeze, with a long 16-second swell rolling through. Alongside the larger cetaceans, we encountered fifty California sea lions rafting near the canyon edge, two sea otters resting in the kelp, and two black-footed albatrosses gliding low over the water.

Having observed these waters for many years, days with this level of species diversity—spanning four distinct families of cetaceans in a single day—remain a humbling reminder of the Monterey Canyon's immense biological productivity.

We were barely out of the harbor mouth on our morning run aboard Sanctuary when we encountered our first humpback whale of the day. On its second dive, the animal launched into a full breach, a striking display of power that is always a privilege to witness so close to shore.

Breaching behavior in these shallow coastal areas can serve multiple purposes, from acoustic communication to shedding skin irritants. After this active individual settled, we headed south through the calm, foggy morning waters toward Marina.

In total, we observed six humpback whales during the trip. Near Marina, we watched a group of four whales feeding in close association with a raft of 45 California sea lions, while a solitary sea otter rested near the kelp. With the water temperature at 58.8°F and a gentle easterly breeze, the bay's surface remained exceptionally calm.

The heavy fog hanging over the bay today reminded us of how productive these cold, nutrient-rich waters remain. It was a quiet, highly active morning that showcases the steady, daily rhythm of the Monterey Canyon.

Leaving the harbor on a clear morning with a light chop, we encountered a pod of transient killer whales just a mile offshore. We observed three of these individuals actively hunting two California sea lions, a predation event that we followed for over an hour. During the encounter, one of the killer whales surfaced directly alongside Sanctuary, exhaling a loud blow that sprayed those on deck. The three we started off with eventually merged with the rest of their pod, lead by Louise the matriarch.

These mammal-eating orcas, known as Bigg's transient killer whales, rely on quiet coordination and immense power to hunt marine mammals. Seeing them execute these natural behaviors so close to the harbor mouth provides a stark reminder of the active food web right at our doorstep.

Further offshore, we encountered a pod of approximately twenty-five Pacific white-sided dolphins. Moving away from the direction of the killer whales, the dolphins joined our vessel and began bow riding, keeping pace with us in the clear water.

It is always a privilege to witness these raw ecological interactions so close to shore. The contrast between the calculated focus of the hunting killer whales and the fluid, energetic response of the dolphins made for a remarkable morning on the bay.

Our morning run aboard Sanctuary faced challenging conditions, with a northwest wind blowing at 15.6 knots and a large, rolling swell. Despite the choppy seas, we were treated to a remarkable encounter with two humpback whales. One of these individuals—a massive animal with a fluke spanning nearly the width of our vessel—twice swam directly beneath the boat, hanging just below the surface in clear view.

Seeing a humpback of this size at such close range offers a rare perspective on their immense scale. When an animal passes directly under the hull, the water refraction highlights the white patterning on the underside of its fluke. This behavior is a demonstration of the species' natural curiosity, as they occasionally choose to investigate stationary vessels in their feeding grounds.

The heavy swell made for a shorter, more challenging trip than usual, which is common during the windy first week of June. In addition to the whales, we observed twenty-five California sea lions, harbor seals, and sea otters navigating the choppy surface closer to the harbor.

Operating in these rougher spring conditions reminds us that the bay is a dynamic, wild environment. Even when the weather limits our transit, the richness of these waters ensures that profound wildlife encounters remain possible.

Departing early to get ahead of the forecasted high winds, our morning run aboard Sanctuary was highlighted by an extraordinary close encounter with two large humpback whales. These two individuals approached us directly and spent twenty minutes "mugging" the vessel, hovering just alongside.

With the water column exceptionally clear despite the rising chop, we could easily trace the outlines of their entire bodies, including their long pectoral flippers, roughly twenty feet below the surface. This behavior, where whales actively investigate stationary vessels, offers a rare look at their spatial awareness and curiosity.

The environmental conditions were brisk, with NNW winds at 17.5 knots and water temperatures holding at 54°F. Along the way, we also encountered a massive aggregation of approximately 600 California sea lions, likely capitalizing on the same bait schools that drew the six humpback whales we observed during the trip.

Navigating rough, windy seas is a regular part of late spring on the bay, but moments of quiet clarity like today's encounter remind us of the complex lives occurring just beneath the surface of these cold, productive waters.

Our morning run aboard Sanctuary was defined by a spectacular display of power at the Soquel Hole, where a large male humpback whale launched his entire body completely clear of the water in a series of full breaches. This dramatic performance came after a long, challenging transit through rough, choppy seas.

Near the breaching male, we also observed two distinct mother and calf pairs. At this stage in the season, these young calves are rapidly putting on weight, staying close to their mothers' sides as they learn the geography of the bay. We also encountered a small pod of eight Risso's dolphins early in the trip, their heavily scarred gray bodies easily recognizable even in the heavy swell.

Navigating the bay today required patience and a sturdy vessel. The offshore buoy at the Monterey Canyon reported a heavy 11.5-foot swell with a 10-second period, making for a very active, motion-filled morning. Along the way, we also noted fifty California sea lions, two harbor seals, a resting sea otter, and a solitary black-footed albatross gliding low over the cresting waves.

Heading back toward the harbor, we reflected on the sheer adaptability of these marine mammals. Even in challenging sea conditions, the canyon edges and deep holes of Monterey Bay continue to provide vital sanctuary and rich foraging grounds for these magnificent animals.