Captain's Log

Today's mid-day run aboard Meridian brought us into a highly concentrated feeding frenzy just a mile outside the harbor mouth. We observed approximately twenty humpback whales feeding alongside a massive raft of over 650 California sea lions. The sheer volume of vocalizations and surface activity from the sea lions, combined with the powerful blows of the humpbacks, made for an incredible sensory experience close to home.

This multi-species feeding event was centered around dense bait balls of schooling forage fish. Humpbacks utilize various feeding strategies, and today we watched them lunging through the bait balls, often in close coordination with the sea lions. California sea lions are highly social and opportunistic feeders; by working the edges of the bait ball, they help keep the fish tightly schooled, which in turn benefits the lunging whales.

Earlier in the trip, we ventured further out into the bay where we encountered a few scattered humpbacks before crossing paths with a pod of 45 long-beaked common dolphins. The dolphins quickly approached the Meridian, riding our bow wave and showcasing their characteristic high-speed agility. Conditions on the bay shifted from calm to a light chop with a northwest wind around 10 knots, typical afternoon behavior for Monterey Bay.

Observing these complex trophic interactions so close to the harbor is a stark reminder of the bay's immense productivity. Near the harbor entrance, we also noted a southern sea otter resting quietly in the kelp canopy, a peaceful contrast to the offshore feeding frenzy.

Today aboard Sanctuary, we were treated to a memorable encounter with three orcas right here in Monterey Bay. The trio approached our vessel under calm seas and light chop, displaying a curious behavior that allowed everyone on board a clear look at these magnificent marine mammals.

As the largest members of the dolphin family, orcas are highly social and intelligent. Watching them navigate the waters near our boat offers a humbling reminder of their position as one of the ocean's most formidable predators. Their distinct black-and-white coloration was highly visible just beneath the surface as they glided alongside us.

In addition to the orcas, we spent time with five humpback whales feeding actively just outside the harbor. These baleen whales are capitalizing on the rich forage available close to shore, putting on a steady show of blows and shallow dives as they gathered nutrients.

Days like today remind us of the dynamic nature of the Monterey Bay submarine canyon, where deep-water predators and coastal feeders can be found sharing the same rich waters just miles from land.

The morning trip aboard Sanctuary found action immediately upon exiting the harbor. We encountered a massive aggregation of life, including twenty humpback whales and a raft of approximately 800 California sea lions. The animals were concentrated around several active bait balls, creating an impressive display of surface activity just a short distance from shore.

This type of multi-species feeding frenzy is a hallmark of the Monterey Bay ecosystem. As the whales feed on schools of small fish, sea lions worked the edges of the bait balls, while Brandt’s cormorants and common murres dived from the surface. This concentrated activity allows these predators to efficiently exploit the dense patches of nutrients moving through the bay.

Conditions were windy with a light chop, which can sometimes make spotting more difficult, but the sheer volume of animals made them easy to track. We left the frenzy to go find some other species off shore, but only found a few additional Humpbacks so we stopped again at the frenzy just out side of our port.

It is a reminder that some of the most profound wildlife encounters in the bay happen within sight of the jetties, provided the bait is there to support them.

The morning began with glassy conditions, allowing for a remarkable encounter with a thirty-five-foot humpback whale. This individual spent forty-five minutes circling the Sanctuary, surfacing so close that the mist from its blow necessitated the use of our windshield wipers. It was a rare opportunity to see the whale’s pectoral fins and ventral pleats as it looped beneath the hull, peering back at us from just below the surface.

This type of behavior, often called mugging, occurs when a whale initiates and maintains contact with a stationary vessel. While we always maintain a respectful distance, these curious individuals occasionally choose to approach us, reminding us that the curiosity in the bay goes both ways.

Further offshore, we encountered a pod of fifteen Risso’s dolphins, including several newborns. These calves are born orange and darker than the scarred, white-gray adults and were seen traveling closely with ten Pacific white-sided dolphins and a group of California sea lions. The mixed-species interaction provided a look into the complex social structures present over the Monterey Canyon.

As the NNW winds built toward twenty-five knots, we were grateful to have spent those quiet moments with such a massive, inquisitive animal before the weather moved in.

It is a grounded reminder of the bay's power that we could witness such gentleness just hours before a gale.

We encountered a high concentration of humpback whales today, beginning just a mile outside the harbor. The highlight was a young male near Marina who performed a series of full-body breaches, launching his school-bus-sized frame entirely out of the water. Watching a juvenile test its strength like this offers a rare perspective on the sheer power these animals possess.

Further offshore, we located a pod of approximately 150 long-beaked common dolphins that has been frequenting the bay this week. They were engaged in a multi-species feeding event, surrounded by hundreds of diving brown pelicans and common murres. This type of surface activity often indicates a dense school of forage fish, like anchovies or sardines, being pushed toward the surface by the dolphins from below.

Our morning trip also included sightings of eight Pacific white-sided dolphins and a black-footed albatross, a pelagic bird that typically spends its life far out at sea. Despite the building northwest winds and a ten-foot swell, the visibility remained excellent, allowing us to spot white water from the dolphin pod on the horizon.

Seeing these animals interact within the complex ecosystem of the Monterey Canyon is a reminder of the bay's productivity. It was a privilege to share these sights with our guests, including a visiting bachelorette party, on such a dynamic day at sea.

The morning trip aboard Sanctuary encountered a significant gathering of humpback whales south of the canyon. We observed approximately 30 individuals concentrated in a small area, focused entirely on the dense bait balls below the surface. Despite the choppy sea state, the activity was visible from a distance as the whales broke the surface to feed.

These whales were part of a multi-species feeding event. Over 250 California sea lions and various seabirds worked the same schools of forage fish, pushing the bait toward the surface. This behavior allows humpbacks to utilize less energy while lunge-feeding, as the sea lions help to consolidate the fish into tight groups.

Our departure from the harbor was marked by a sighting of a mother sea otter and her pup, while our return journey was accompanied by a pod of long-beaked common dolphins. These dolphins spent several minutes bow-riding, utilizing the pressure wave of the boat to glide through the water with minimal effort.

Observing such a high concentration of marine life in a single area illustrates the seasonal productivity of the Monterey Bay canyon system.

The morning trip aboard Sanctuary began with exceptionally calm, glassy water, providing the perfect backdrop for a dramatic encounter. A single humpback whale breached just off our starboard side, clearing the surface with its entire body before landing with a massive splash. This individual remained active for some time, transitioning from the breach into a series of pectoral slaps and blows across our bow.

Nearby, two other humpbacks were engaged in vigorous tail throws. These forceful movements of the fluke against the water’s surface are often interpreted as a form of communication or a way to stun small schooling fish. With the water temperature holding at 56.7°F, the bay remains a productive feeding ground for these rorquals as they move through the Monterey Canyon.

As we turned back toward the harbor, we encountered a pod of approximately 150 long-beaked common dolphins. They quickly moved in to bow-ride, utilizing the pressure wave of the vessel to travel efficiently. Along the way, we also noted California sea lions, harbor seals, and a lone sea otter resting near the kelp line.

We have included some photos from today's sightings, capturing the dolphins alongside the hull.

Days like this, where the sea is still and the wildlife is so visible, remind us of the complex ecosystem thriving just a few miles from the harbor mouth.

The afternoon trip aboard Sanctuary was defined by two humpback whales found just one mile outside the harbor. Despite the rougher sea state and a nearly seven-foot swell, the clear water allowed us to track their movements between frequent surfacings.

Seeing whales this close to shore often indicates that baitfish have moved into the shallower coastal shelf. These humpbacks were likely taking advantage of the nutrient-rich water brought up by the spring winds, a process known as upwelling that fuels the entire Monterey Bay food web.

Our group from Save Our Shores and several young naturalists-in-training watched as the whales moved through the light chop. Along the way, we also encountered fifty California sea lions, sea otters, and a mix of Brandt's cormorants, brown pelicans, and common murres.

A single photo from this afternoon’s encounter is included below, capturing one of the whales as it prepared for a shallow dive.

It is always a privilege to see these animals so close to home, reminding us that the deep canyon's influence reaches right to our doorstep.