Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Most Recent Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
Since October 1, 2025
compiled by Monterey Bay Whale Watch
This list, updated every few days, includes reported sightings from Monterey Bay Whale Watch trips. Unusual sightings of other marine animals such as Leatherback Sea Turtles and Basking Sharks are also listed, in addition to unusual seabirds such as Albatross and Brown Boobies. California Sea Lions are mentioned only if numbers or behavior are of interest. Harbor Seals and Southern Sea Otters, which are seen on most if not all whale watching trips, are not included in the list. Each month the sightings from the previous month are moved to a monthly summary list.
These sightings are copyright protected and may not be used without permission from Nancy Black. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of this information is a violation of federal copyright law, and is subject to prosecution to the full extent of the law.
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| Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project |
| Date |
# |
Type of Animal(s) |
|
| 10/20 1:30 p.m. |
11 |
Humpback whales (breaching) |
|
| 10/20 9 a.m. |
18 |
Humpback whales (pec slapping) |
|
1 |
Blue shark |
|
| 10/19 2:30 p.m. |
3 |
Humpback whales |
|
50 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
20 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
| 10/19 1:30 p.m. |
10 |
Humpback whales (chronic breaching) |
|
| 10/19 10 a.m. |
3 |
Orcas (CA51As and Jimmy) |
|
12 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/19 9 a.m. |
3 |
Orcas (CA51As and Jimmy) |
|
6 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/18 2:30 p.m. |
7 |
Orcas (CA51As and CA50B “Jimmy”) |
|
| 10/18 1:30 p.m. |
4 |
Orcas (CA51As) |
|
13 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/18 10 a.m. |
7 |
Orcas (CA51As and CA50B “Jimmy”) |
|
15 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/18 9 a.m. |
7 |
Orcas (CA51As and CA50B “Jimmy”) |
|
| 10/18 8 Hour All Day |
7 |
Orcas (CA51As and CA50B “Jimmy”) |
|
20 |
Humpback whales |
|
1 |
Mola mola |
|
| 10/17 1:30 p.m. |
8 |
Humpback whales |
|
20 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 10/17 10 a.m. |
4 |
Orca |
|
11 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/17 9 a.m. |
4 |
Orca |
|
15 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/16 1:30 p.m. |
17 |
Humpback whales (breaching, tail lobbing) |
|
| 10/16 9 a.m. |
19 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/15 9 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback whales (including calf Chex Mix who is now free from the fishing gear entanglement!!!) |
|
| 10/14 9 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/13 9 a.m. |
14 |
Humpback whales |
|
30 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
4 |
Northern right whale dolphin |
|
| 10/12 10 a.m. |
18 |
Humpback whales (breaching, tail lobbing, pec slapping) |
|
8 |
Bottlenose dolphin |
|
| 10/12 9 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback whales (breaching) |
|
| 10/11 1:30 p.m. |
8 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/11 10 a.m. |
6 |
Orcas (CA51As) |
|
6 |
Humpback whales |
|
20 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 10/11 9 a.m. |
6 |
Orcas (CA51As) |
|
10 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/9 1:30 p.m. |
13 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/10 9 a.m. |
4 |
Orcas |
|
15 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/10 9 a.m. |
4 |
Orcas |
|
8 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/9 1:30 p.m. |
17 |
Humpback whales |
|
12 |
Harbor porpoise |
|
| 10/9 9 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback whales |
|
100 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
20 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
500 |
Short-beaked common dolphin |
|
| 10/9 8 Hour All Day |
23 |
Humpback whales |
|
10 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
| 10/8 1:30 p.m. |
15 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/8 9 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/7 2 p.m. |
11 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/7 9 a.m. |
6 |
Orcas (CA51As) |
|
2 |
Humpback whales |
|
60 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 10/6 1:30 p.m. |
10 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/6 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback whales |
|
200 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
30 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
10 |
Northern right whale dolphin |
|
| 10/6 8 Hour All Day |
9 |
Humpback whales |
|
150 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
40 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
15 |
Northern right whale dolphin |
|
| 10/5 2:30 p.m. |
6 |
Orcas (CA51As) |
|
4 |
Humpback whales |
|
6 |
Bottlenose dolphin |
|
| 10/5 1:30 p.m. |
6 |
Orcas (CA51As) |
|
15 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/5 10 a.m. |
6 |
Orcas (CA51As) |
|
| 10/5 9 a.m. |
6 |
Orcas (CA51As) |
|
13 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/4 1:30 p.m. |
6 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/4 10 a.m. |
6 |
Orcas (CA51As) |
|
6 |
Humpback whales |
|
100 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 10/4 9 a.m. |
6 |
Orcas (CA51As) |
|
8 |
Humpback whales |
|
100 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 10/4 8 Hour All Day |
6 |
Orcas (CA51As) |
|
21 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/3 9 a.m. |
6 |
Orcas (CA51As) |
|
6 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/2 1:30 p.m. |
4 |
Orcas |
|
16 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/2 9 a.m. |
4 |
Orcas |
|
22 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/1 1:30 p.m. |
6 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 10/1 9 a.m. |
1 |
Orca (CA50B Jimmy) |
|
11 |
Humpback whales |
|
|
Photos © 2025 Daniel Bianchetta and Morgan Quimby
 Orca calf breaching through afternoon swell (October 5, 2025)
 Orca matriarch CA51A Aurora breaching towards the boat (October 5, 2025)
 Orca matriarch CA51A Aurora breaching towards the boat (October 5, 2025)
 Orca matriarch CA51A Aurora breaching towards the boat (October 5, 2025)
 Humpback whales intervening on an orca hunt (October 5, 2025)
 Celebratory orca belly flop breach after a successful sea lion hunt (October 5, 2025)
 Orca calf fluke waving while celebrating a sea lion hunt (October 5, 2025)
 Amazing high leap from a Bottlenose dolphin (October 5, 2025)
 Female orca pod members surfacing in beautiful sea conditions (October 4, 2025)
 Powerful tail lob in beautiful morning light from mother Humpback Little Dimple (October 4, 2025)
 Powerful tail lob in beautiful morning light from mother Humpback Little Dimple (October 4, 2025)
 Female killer whale launching from the swell on a windy day (October 3, 2025)
 Killer whale calf breaches on its side with the beach of Marina in the background (October 2, 2025)
 Massive Humpback whale breaching on a cloudy moody day (October 2, 2025) |
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Copyright © 2025 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.
