Latest Sightings Monterey Bay Whale Watch Marine Mammal List

Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Most Recent Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region

Since September 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)

9/29 1:30 p.m.	16	Humpback whales (lunge feeding, pec slapping)

9/29 9 a.m.	26	Humpback whales (lunge feeding)
	30	Risso’s dolphin
	20	Pacific white-sided dolphin

9/29 8 a.m. All Day	27	Humpback whales (lunge feeding)
	40	Risso’s dolphin
	20	Pacific white-sided dolphin

9/28 1:30 p.m.	10	Humpback whales (feeding with sea lions, tail throwing)

9/28 11 a.m.	16	Humpback whales

9/28 9 a.m.	11	Humpback whales
	20	Risso’s dolphin

9/27 2:30 p.m.	6	Orcas (CA51As)

9/27 1:30 p.m.	6	Orcas (CA51As)
	6	Humpback whales

9/27 10 a.m.	6	Orcas (CA51As)
	3	Humpback whales

9/27 9 a.m.	6	Orcas (CA51As)
	8	Humpback whales

9/27 8 a.m. All Day	6	Orcas (CA51As)
	7	Humpback whales
	6	Northern right whale dolphin
	2	Blue sharks

9/26 1:30 p.m.	6	Orcas (CA51As)
	4	Humpback whales

9/26 9 a.m.	6	Orcas (CA51As)
	6	Humpback whales

9/25 1:30 p.m.	2	Orcas (Andi and Astrid)
	16	Humpback whales

9/25 9 a.m.	22	Humpback whales

9/24 2:30 p.m.	16	Humpback whales
	30	Risso’s dolphin
	5	Harbor porpoise

9/24 9 a.m.	17	Humpback whales
	30	Risso’s dolphin

9/23 2:30 p.m.	12	Humpback whales

9/23 9 a.m.	2	Orcas
	7	Humpback whales
	10	Risso’s dolphin
	1	Blue shark

9/22 10 a.m.	15	Humpback whales

9/22 9 a.m.	20	Humpback whales

9/21 2:30 p.m.	7	Humpback whales (tail lobbing)

9/21 1:30 p.m.	15	Humpback whales (pec slapping, tail throwing, feeding with sea lions)

9/21 10 a.m.	15	Humpback whales

9/21 9 a.m.	7	Humpback whales (feeding frenzy)
	15	Risso’s dolphin
	1	Blue shark

9/20 5 p.m.	6	Humpback whales (breaching, pec slapping)

9/20 2:30 p.m.	7	Humpback whales

9/20 10 a.m.	16	Humpback whales

9/20 9 a.m.	12	Humpback whales (feeding with sea lions)

9/19 1:30 p.m.	7	Humpback whales

9/19 9 a.m.	6	Orcas (CA140s)
	11	Humpback whales

9/18 2:30 p.m.	12	Humpback whales (breaching)

9/18 9 a.m.	25	Humpback whales

9/17 2:30 p.m.	3	Humpback whales (friendly calf breaching, tail throwing, spy hopping)

9/17 9 a.m.	22	Humpback whales (feeding frenzy)

9/16 2:30 p.m.	11	Humpback whales (breaching, tail throwing)
	35	Risso’s dolphin
	1	White shark (hunted a sea lion!)

9/16 9 a.m.	24	Humpback whales
	3	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	40	Risso’s dolphin
	1	Black-footed albatross

9/15 9 a.m.	1	Blue whale
	35	Humpback whales (feeding, pec slapping)

9/15 8 a.m. All Day	27	Humpback whales
	200	Risso’s dolphin

9/14 2:30 p.m.	4	Orcas (CA39As)
	15	Humpback whales (feeding, tail throw)

9/14 9 a.m.	16	Humpback whales (feeding)
	60	Risso’s dolphin (nursery pod)
	1	Salmon shark

9/13 5:30 p.m. Sunset	2	Humpback whales (lunge feeding)

9/13 1:30 p.m.	11	Humpback whales

9/13 10 a.m.	21	Humpback whales (friendly, breaching)

9/13 9 a.m.	23	Humpback whales

9/13 8 a.m. All Day	27	Humpback whales (feeding)

9/12 1:30 p.m.	30	Humpback whales (feeding frenzy)

9/12 9 a.m.	38	Humpback whales (friendly, feeding frenzy)

9/11 9 a.m.	25	Humpback whales

9/10 2:30 p.m.	5	Humpback whales

9/10 9 a.m.	10	Humpback whales (friendly cow + calf pair)
	200	Risso’s dolphin

9/9 1:30 p.m.	10	Humpback whales

9/9 9 a.m.	10	Humpback whales
	100	Risso’s dolphin
	10	Pacific white-sided dolphin

9/8 1:30 p.m.	7	Humpback whales

9/8 9 a.m.	7	Humpback whales (Aria kelping)
	40	Risso’s dolphin
	10	Pacific white-sided dolphin

9/8 8 a.m. All Day	8	Humpback whales (surface active)
	1	Gray whale
	2	Guadalupe fur seals
	30	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	80	Risso’s dolphin
	2	Mako sharks
	1	Great white shark
	1	Salmon shark
	4	Blue sharks
	1	Cassin’s auklet

9/7 5:30 p.m. Sunset	4	Humpback whales

9/7 2:30 p.m.	6	Killer whales (CA58B, CA27As, CA216C, CA216C2)

9/7 1:30 p.m.	6	Killer whales (CA58B, CA27As, CA216C, CA216C2)

9/7 10 a.m.	5	Fin whales
	2	Humpback whales
	1	Blue shark
	1	Black-footed albatross

9/7 9 a.m.	7	Fin whales
	7	Humpback whales
	1	Tufted puffin (rare)

9/6 5:30 p.m. Sunset	9	Humpback whales (feeding)

9/6 2:30 p.m.	5	Fin whales
	3	Humpback whales
	50	Risso’s dolphin
	15	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	12	Common dolphin

9/6 10 a.m.	13	Humpback whales (feeding, tail throwing)
	12	Black-footed albatross

9/6 9 a.m.	16	Humpback whales

9/5 1:30 p.m.	7	Humpback whales (feeding)

9/5 9 a.m.	14	Humpback whales (feeding)
	3	Black-footed albatross
	1	Mola mola

9/4 2:30 p.m.	33	Humpback whales (breaching, pec slapping, tail lobbing)
	15	Harbor porpoise

9/4 10 a.m.	61	Humpback whales (feeding)
	10	Harbor porpoise
	1	Salmon shark

9/3 1:30 p.m.	47	Humpback whales (feeding)

9/3 9 a.m.	39	Humpback whales (feeding)

9/2 1:30 p.m.	30	Humpback whales

9/2 10 a.m.	34	Humpback whales (friendly cow/calf pair)

9/2 9 a.m.	25	Humpback whales (feeding frenzy)

9/1 11 a.m.	11	Humpback whales

9/1 10 a.m.	17	Humpback whales (breaching, tail slapping, chin slapping, feeding)

9/1 9 a.m.	34	Humpback whales (feeding frenzy)