Captain's Log

Under completely glassy seas off Moss Landing this morning aboard Sanctuary, we encountered roughly twenty-five humpback whales actively feeding across the area. The focal encounter occurred when a group of four humpbacks surfaced in powerful vertical lunge-feeds right through the center of an active pod of about two hundred long-beaked common dolphins.

Vertical lunge-feeding requires precise timing and momentum. The whales drop beneath schools of forage fish—typically northern anchovy in this nearshore zone—and accelerate upward toward the surface with their ventral pleats expanding to engulf hundreds of gallons of prey-laden water. Common dolphins frequently work the upper margins of these same bait balls, effectively tightening the school and creating an ideal target for the surging rorquals below.

Throughout our morning transit, we documented roughly 300 long-beaked common dolphins scattered across the area, alongside approximately 100 California sea lions and 100 brown pelicans scavenging at the surface. The mirror-flat water allowed us to track subsurface movements clearly and observe how seamlessly these different marine predators shared the concentrated patches of prey.

Multi-species feeding aggregations like this illustrate the high productivity concentrated near the head of the Monterey Submarine Canyon. Observing apex predators coordinate their foraging efforts in calm water provides valuable, direct insight into the trophic dynamics of the bay.

As Sanctuary embarked on our 8:30 a.m. tour of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, groups of humpbacks were already active, lofting sunlit blows above the glassy water. We headed west toward an active feeding group, where we were joined by rafts of California sea lions and innumerable sea birds.

The humpbacks displayed a variety of surface feeding behaviors, including vertical and horizontal lunge feeds that sent silvery anchovies flying. Soon after, long-beaked common dolphins arrived to join the feast.

We were fortunate to reunite with the same feeding group of humpbacks during the 11:30 trip. While feeding activity had moved below the surface, our afternoon passengers were treated to multiple breaches and more dolphins. On the way back to harbor, we enjoyed a visit from a sunbathing adult mola mola, punctuating another amazing day of wildlife viewing on Monterey Bay.

Calm, glassy conditions settled over Monterey Bay today, providing exceptional visibility on both our morning and mid-day trips aboard Sanctuary. The standout encounter occurred immediately following an aggressive vertical lunge feed, when an adult humpback surfaced right beside the boat before expelling its engulfed mouthful, offering a clear and unusual look at its expanded throat pouch still packed with water and schooling fish.

As rorquals, humpbacks rely on pleated throat grooves running from the lower jaw down toward the navel. These pleats expand dramatically like an accordion, allowing the whale to engulf thousands of gallons of prey-laden water in a single stride before forcing it through the baleen plates. Watching an individual surface and calmly retain that distended mouthful beside the hull is an uncommon look at the mechanical transition between engulfment and filtration. Throughout both departures, whales also displayed intermittent bouts of pectoral slapping, tail lobbing, and several breaches.

In total, we accounted for roughly forty humpback whales actively working the bay. They were frequently flanked by aggregations of California sea lions, numbering around 250 individuals, who often herd and corral the same baitfish schools from below. Mid-day travel also brought us into company with a pod of roughly 100 long-beaked common dolphins, their quick surfacings standing out cleanly against the flat water.

With surface water temperatures holding around 64°F and light winds, the bay remains productive and stable. Days with this level of surface glass provide invaluable, unobstructed opportunities to study the feeding mechanics and spatial dynamics of these mixed-species aggregations.

Fascinating cetacean behaviors were on full display today. During both trips, inquisitive whales swam close to the boat and appeared to be doing some people watching. With clear skies and good water visibility, it was easy to see the size and beauty of these graceful creatures.

Passengers on our morning cruise also observed a pod of approximately seventy Risso's dolphins cavorting. A few breached repeatedly while the pod moved to the southwest. Among the group were two babies, one with its fetal folds still visible.

During our 11:30 trip, a young whale alternated breaching and pectoral fin slapping. This nearly inexhaustable youngster inspired tail throwing behavior from both mom and an escort whale, as well. At one point, the little whale powered ahead toward a larger group of whales then thought better with a quick u-turn back to mom. With this much going on at the surface, the mind boggles at the dynamic activity that must play out every day under the waves.

Check out the video from today Calm conditions greeted Ocean Spirit just outside Moss Landing this morning, where a substantial concentration of roughly forty humpback whales had moved into the nearshore waters. The most striking encounter came when an inquisitive humpback approached our vessel, circling steadily, passing directly beneath the hull, and spy-hopping alongside us, affording clear, eye-to-eye views.

Spy-hopping is an intentional behavior where a whale vertically lifts its head clear of the surface to inspect surroundings in air rather than underwater. At such close quarters, the whale's exhalations carried the distinct, pungent odor typical of cetaceans actively foraging on baitfish—an unmistakable sensory hallmark of productive feeding grounds.

This individual was part of a broader, multi-species feeding spectacle right in front of the harbor. Around the whales, approximately one hundred California sea lions coordinated with surface-feeding birds, including two hundred Sooty shearwaters, one hundred Brandt’s cormorants, one hundred common murres, and sixty brown pelicans. Further out, we also documented a pod of one hundred Risso's dolphins and an offshore Black-footed albatross.

Observing humpbacks engage with a drifting boat on their own terms offers valuable insight into their situational awareness. Days like this, marked by heavy feeding and quiet water, underscore just how concentrated the life along the canyon head can be.

Off Moss Landing aboard Meridian, our focal encounter centered on three humpback whales that chose to approach our vessel. The trio spent an extended period circling close to the boat, repeatedly swimming beneath the hull and surfacing quietly along our beam.

This deliberate, boat-oriented behavior often happens when humpbacks take an interest in an idling vessel. With our engines out of gear, the whales exhibited remarkable spatial awareness, maneuvering their massive bodies and long pectoral fins effortlessly just beneath the surface as they inspected us from all angles.

Encounters like this are always dictated entirely by the whales. Having three individuals calmly choose our proximity and linger so comfortably around the boat is a steady reminder of the subtle curiosity these animals can display in Monterey Bay.

Despite a bleak weather forecast, the day was anything but. As we left the harbor, several playful coastal bottlenose dolphins were swimming near surfers along Moss Landing Beach. A bit further out there were moon jellies and purple-striped jellies, which reminded us that on Monterey Bay, beautiful and unexpected wildlife sightings can occur at any time.

Humpback whales continued to feed about four miles to the west. Spouts littered the skyline as groups from two to seven whales dove for anchovies. At times, the surfacing and diving would be interrupted by tail-lobs and/or pectoral fin-slapping, which appeared to encourage other whales to become active also.

The humpbacks have been quite curious, and approached the boat during more than one trip today. In each instance, the whale or whales turned directly towards the boat while we were idling and checked us out. These encounters are always thrilling. Every day on the Bay has its own rewards, but there's a particular satisfaction in braving less than ideal conditions and being rewarded with such amazing sightings.

Whale soup! The abundance of life in Monterey Bay was on full display again today as humpbacks, orca and long-beaked common dolphins were observed throughout the day.

The feeding grounds continue to explode with anchovies and anchovy eaters. From our arrival on the docks early this morning, elegant terns, cormorants, snowy egrets and gulls were feasting. California sea lions joined in the melee on the bay.

As the slightest of swells rose in the early afternoon, young and old humpbacks alike began breaching in all directions. For many it was one and done, or maybe a switch to tail-lobbing and pec-slapping, but there were a few youngsters who were breach-crazy, much to the crew's and passengers' delight!

Even once we docked, the flashing silver scales and fish-focused harbor residents echoed the feast taking place further out. Another awesome day on the bay left innumerable animals full of anchovies, while our passengers went home filled with great memories of our eventful cruises.

Calm, glassy water and mild early autumn conditions greeted Ocean Spirit out of Moss Landing this morning. We quickly encountered active feeding groups of humpback whales, with approximately fifteen individuals scattered across the area, highlighted by several young calves repeatedly breaching.

At this time of year, calves born during the winter breeding season are growing rapidly and refining their motor skills while their mothers focus heavily on replenishing energy reserves. Around the feeding humpbacks, a pod of roughly fifty long-beaked common dolphins and sixty-five California sea lions worked the schooling bait from below, compressing prey toward the surface.

The multi-species activity drew a substantial foraging flock overhead, including roughly 150 Sooty shearwaters, 50 Brown pelicans, 50 Brandt’s cormorants, and 40 Common murres. Inshore near the harbor entrance, we also recorded four sea otters rafting in the calm conditions.

These glassy early-fall mornings consistently provide clean, unobscured observations of how dynamic and tightly linked the Monterey Bay food web remains through the peak of the feeding season.