Captain's Log

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.

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.

Our morning charter aboard Ocean Spirit was highlighted by an exceptionally close encounter with three curious humpback whales. While observing a larger group of ten humpbacks in the bay, these three individuals detached from the pod and swam directly to our vessel, lingering just a few feet away to investigate us. The low profile of Ocean Spirit offered an intimate, eye-level perspective as these multi-ton animals slowly maneuvered alongside.

This type of approach, often referred to as friendly behavior, is a classic demonstration of humpback curiosity. When whales choose to initiate contact, they display remarkable spatial awareness, carefully controlling their movements near the boat. Nearby, a highly active feeding frenzy was underway, centered around a dense bait ball. Approximately fifty California sea lions and a massive school of eighteen hundred long-beaked common dolphins worked the bait, driving fish toward the surface.

The morning conditions were typical for mid-July, with a stiff northwest wind of 19.4 knots creating a light chop across the bay. Buoy 46042 recorded a cool water temperature of 54.5°F. Despite the breeze, the high concentration of marine life kept our focus entirely on the water, where the sheer volume of the dolphin pod stretched across the horizon.

Spending decades on these waters teaches us that every encounter is dictated entirely by the animals' choices. Today's quiet, mutual look between species reminds us of the privilege we have to share this dynamic ecosystem with them.