Month: January 2015

01-29-2015 Diversity! Grays, Humpbacks, Rissos & Common Dolphins

Conditions remain beautiful out on the bay and the humpbacks are hanging around to enjoy the winter and continuing anchovies. The Long Beaked Common Dolphins continue to please tremendously as they come to play with Sanctuary almost daily. Finally we had Risso’s dolphins again just about five miles West of Moss. This is hands down the best January ever for whale watching out of Moss Landing. We still have some spots for Super Bowl Sunday for those of you who would rather be on a boat like us!

01-19-2015 We still have humpbacks and plenty of LB Common Dolphins

Monday’s trip began with a sighting of an entangled humpback whale. We called the rescue team and stuck with the unfortunate whale until they could get out to help it. After this humbling start (we’ve seen too many entanglements this year) we came upon an active breaching and slapping humpback whale and many long beaked common dolphins! Here is a photo by passenger John Parman.
We still have openings for this Friday and Saturday at 10 am!Delphinus.johnparnam.jan2015

01-17-2015 Amazing Wild Dolphin Show on Monterey Bay today!

Today the long-beaked common dolphins stole the show from the humpbacks. There were thousands of dolphins, bow-riding, wake-riding, leaping and whistling. After an hour of almost nonstop bow-riding and milling about, all of a sudden their behavior changed dramatically. The entire school took off in formation, leaping and speeding away as if they were being chased by a formidable predator (which we never saw). Seeing thousands of dolphins leaping in unison and throwing up lines of splashes was quite the sight! After that dolphin display, we were feeling ready for some humpback whale action. We sure got it – as a solo humpback breached in the distance. We made our way closer hoping to see another breach and it sure paid off. Just fifty yards from the boat the whale exploded out of the water for all to see! Another fantastic day aboard Sanctuary.

01-16-2015: Breaching Gray Whale at Moss grand finale to superb trip today

This January is one for the records with super calm conditions including awesome skies and lighting. Humpback whales are continuing to feed within five miles of Moss daily along with thousands of sea birds and common dolphins. It is sheer delight to spend several hours with a group of foraging humpbacks, birds, sea lions and dolphins. The occasional gray whale that comes inside the bay on their southbound migration adds quite nicely to the mix! We are running trips just on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays this month as Captain Mike spends the weekdays upgrading our faithful vessel, the Sanctuary.

01-04-2015 Epic Winter conditions! Humpback whales, gray whales and dolphins!

Four days into the new year and we still have humpbacks aplenty foraging in Monterey Bay. We had to go out a bit further (five miles) to find them today, but they have been circling back in towards Moss each afternoon. Today we had seven gray whales heading east right along the north edge of the canyon. Beautiful sight! The dolphins sort of stole the show again – we have had so many long beaked common dolphins this past week or so. They are avid bow-riders so never fail to delight passengers. This January we will be focusing on weekend trips, with the occasional Friday and Monday cruise. Mid week we are renovating the Sanctuary cabin. Happy New Year!