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 November 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)

11/30 10 a.m.	11	Humpback whales
	4	Harbor porpoise
	20	Mola mola

11/30 9 a.m.	6	Humpback whales

11/29 1:30 p.m.	6	Humpback whales (lunge feeding)

11/29 10 a.m.	14	Humpback whales

11/29 9 a.m.	20	Humpback whales
	1	Black-footed albatross
	5	Mola mola

11/28 1:30 p.m.	9	Humpback whales
	1	Tufted puffin

11/28 9 a.m.	11	Humpback whales
	1	Fin whale
	1	Tufted puffin

11/27 9 a.m. (Pt. Sur Clipper)	19	Humpback whales (Checkmarks and Chex Mix)
	10	Risso’s dolphin
	4	Mola mola

11/27 9 a.m. (Sea Wolf II)	1	Sperm whale
	12	Humpback whales (Angel Wing, Checkmarks, & Chex Mix)
	75	Risso’s dolphin
	10	Mola mola

11/26 1:30 p.m.	12	Humpback whales

11/26 10 a.m.	8	Humpback whales
	300	Pacific white-sided dolphin

11/26 9 a.m.	17	Humpback whales (Checkmarks and Chex Mix)
	1000	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	12	Northern right whale dolphin

11/25 1:30 p.m.	13	Humpback whales (Ruffles)

11/25 9 a.m.	15	Humpback whales (Checkmarks and Chex Mix)

11/24 1:30 p.m.	7	Humpback whales

11/24 9 a.m.	18	Humpback whales (mom + calf pair tail throwing)

11/23 1:30 p.m.	6	Humpback whales (breaching)

11/23 10 a.m.	7	Orcas (CA51A + CA50B)
	2	Humpback whales

11/23 9 a.m.	11	Orcas (CA51As + CA50B)
	6	Humpback whales
	6	Mola mola

11/22 2:30 p.m.	7	Humpback whales (chronic breacher)

11/22 10 a.m.	12	Humpback whales

11/22 9 a.m.	11	Humpback whales
	7	Harbor porpoise

11/21 9 a.m.	7	Orcas (CA51As & CA50B)

11/20	—	No trips due to high winds!

11/19 9 a.m.	16	Humpback whales (kelping)

11/18 1:30 p.m.	7	Humpback whales (lunge feeding)

11/18 9 a.m.	15	Humpback whales (lunge feeding)

11/17	—	No trips due to high winds!

11/16 9 a.m.	20	Humpback whales

11/15 1:30 p.m.	3	Humpback whales

11/15 9 a.m.	10	Humpback whales (feeding, friendly close passes)
	1	Mola mola
	8	Ancient murrelets

11/15 8 Hour All Day	12	Humpback whales

11/13	—	No trips due to high winds!

11/12 9 a.m.	23	Humpback whales
	80	Risso’s dolphin (nursery pod)

11/11 1:30 p.m.	13	Humpback whales (calf kelping, pec slapping and fluke slapping, & adult breaching)

11/11 9 a.m.	15	Humpback whales (feeding, friendly close passes)
	1	Mola mola
	1	Short-eared owl

11/10 1:30 p.m.	3	Humpback whales (breach)
	4	Orcas (CA39As)

11/10 9 a.m.	8	Humpback whales
	4	Orcas (CA39As)
	4	Mola mola (Ocean sunfish)

11/9 2:30 p.m.	4	Humpback whales (breach and lunge feed, Little Dimple and Mister Magic!)
	30	Risso’s dolphin

11/9 10 a.m.	20	Humpback whales
	4	Orcas (CA39As)
	100	Risso’s dolphin

11/9 9 a.m.	5	Humpback whales
	30	Risso’s dolphin
	50	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	5	Dall’s porpoise

11/8 2:30 p.m.	12	Humpback whales
	4	Orcas (CA39As)

11/8 10 a.m.	5	Humpback whales
	4	Orcas (CA39As)
	200	Risso’s dolphin

11/8 9 a.m.	5	Humpback whales
	4	Orcas (CA39As)
	30	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	100	Northern right whale dolphin

11/7 2:30 p.m.	5	Humpback whales

11/7 9 a.m.	25	Humpback whales (breaching, mom + calf)

11/6 1:30 p.m.	10	Humpback whales (tail slapping)

11/6 9 a.m.	25	Humpback whales
	200	Risso’s dolphin
	40	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	25	Northern right whale dolphin

11/5	—	No trips due to high winds!

11/4 9 a.m.	18	Humpback whales (Checkmarks & Chex Mix!)
	40	Risso’s dolphin

11/3 9 a.m.	20	Humpback whales (friendly)
	6	Mola mola
	5	Black-footed albatross

11/2 9 a.m.	27	Humpback whales (competitive group!)
	30	Risso’s dolphin

11/1 2:30 p.m.	9	Humpback whales

11/1 10 a.m.	18	Humpback whales
	200	Risso’s dolphin
	25	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	2	Northern right whale dolphin

11/1 9 a.m.	17	Humpback whales

11/1 8 hour All Day	38	Humpback whales
	200	Risso’s dolphin
	25	Pacific white-sided dolphin

Whale breaching water surface with splashing waves in ocean, distant coast in background.

Humpback whale lunge feeding on anchovies towards the boat (November 29, 2025)

Pelican soaring in the clear sky with wings spread wide and sunlight highlighting feathers.

Brown pelican shaking excess water off in the afternoon light after diving for anchovies (November 29, 2025)

Whale tail splashing water as it emerges from the ocean.

Humpback whale with killer whale rake marks fluking up to dive (November 29, 2025)

Brown pelican in flight with wings fully spread against a white sky.

Brown pelican positioning itself to dive for anchovies (November 29, 2025)

Whale partially submerged, fin visible, in the blue ocean water.

Juvenile Fin whale surfacing (November 28, 2025)

Group of humpback whales surfacing in calm ocean near distant shoreline.

Four Humpback whales arching their backs to dive (November 28, 2025)

A tufted puffin with an orange beak swims in the ocean.

Tufted puffin resting close to the harbor (November 28, 2025)

Whale tail emerging from ocean, splashing water with clear sky above.

Sperm whale (rare sighting!) fluking up for a very deep long dive (November 27, 2025)

A gull floats on water with a shark fin nearby, under sunny skies.

Mola mola trying to avoid a pesky gull at the surface (November 27, 2025)

Close-up of a dolphin's back and fin surfacing in the ocean with splashes of water.

Risso’s dolphin calf surfacing near its mother (November 27, 2025)

Sunfish swimming near the surface of the ocean with rippling waves.

Mola mola looking around while basking at the surface (November 27, 2025)

Dolphin breaching water in Monterey Bay with sandy hills and buildings in the background.

Risso’s dolphin breaching (November 27, 2025)

Sea otter floating on its back in calm water, facing the camera.

Mother Southern sea otter grooming her fur in the harbor (November 27, 2025)

A gray whale breaching the surface of the ocean, creating small splashes.

Risso’s dolphin spy hopping (November 27, 2025)

Orcas swimming in the ocean with water sprays from their blowholes.

CA50B Jimmy surfacing alongside a member of the CA51As (November 23, 2025)

Three orcas swimming at sea with visible dorsal fins and water spray.

CA51As orca pod surfacing together (November 23, 2025)

Orca swimming in the ocean with dorsal fin above water.

Orca calf from the CA51As pod surfacing near her mother (November 23, 2025)

Humpback whale breaching ocean with mountains in the background.

Big breach from a Humpback whale during the golden hour (November 22, 2025)

Humpback whale breaching out of the ocean, with water splashing around.

Big breach from a Humpback whale during the golden hour (November 22, 2025)

Seal leaping out of the water with blue ocean background.

California sea lion that was once rehabilitated (note the yellow flipper tag) breaching next to the boat (November 22, 2025)

Two orcas swimming in choppy sea with distant coastline in background.

CA51As orca pod surfacing together (November 21, 2025)

Orca surfacing in Monterey Bay with town and trees in the background.

CA50B Jimmy surfacing close to the shores of Pacific Grove (November 21, 2025)

Humpback whale breaching water with distant sandy hills and seagulls nearby.

Humpback whale lunge feeding (November 18, 2025)

Humpback whale breaching in ocean, creating a large splash under a cloudy sky.

Humpback whale breaching head on (November 15, 2025)

Humpback whale breaching on a foggy day (November 10, 2025)

Male orca CA39A2 interacting with a younger pod member (November 10, 2025)

Two orcas swimming in the ocean, one with its dorsal fin out of the water.

Male orca CA39A2 surfacing (November 10, 2025)

Orca swimming in ocean near rocky coastline with trees in the background.

Male orca CA39A2 surfacing near the coast (November 9, 2025)

Seagull flying over ocean with blue water background.

Bonaparte’s gull close fly by in golden hour light (November 9, 2025)

Humpback whale breaching above ocean water with distant mountains in the background.

Mister Magic the Humpback calf breaching in the golden hour (November 9, 2025)

Humpback whale breaches water surrounded by splashing waves and six birds in flight.

Little Dimple the Humpback lunge feeding during the golden hour (November 9, 2025)

Two whales exhaling mist at sea with a golden sunset in the background and a bird flying nearby.

Little Dimple and Mister Magic surfacing together at sunset (November 9, 2025)

Dolphin swimming in clear blue water with splashing waves.

Pacific white-sided dolphin surfacing and looking at a passing piece of kelp (November 8, 2025)

Northern right whale dolphin mothers and their calves porpoising together (November 8, 2025)

Close-up of ocean sunfish near the water surface, showing its eye and part of its body.

Up close portrait of a Mola mola (November 8, 2025)

Two orcas swimming with dorsal fins visible above the ocean surface.

Little CA39A5 surfacing behind their older brother 16 year old CA39A2 (November 8, 2025)

Albatross flying over ocean with mountains in the background.

Black-footed albatross gliding by (November 8, 2025)

CA39As orca pod surfacing together (November 8, 2025)

Humpback whale fluking up at the top of a swell at sunset (November 7, 2025)

Humpback whale displaying a spinning breach (November 7, 2025)

Risso’s dolphin porpoising (November 6, 2025)

Humpback whale head emerging from water, covered with barnacles.

Humpback whale calf spy-hopping (November 3, 2025)

Ocean sunfish swimming in dark blue water, fin visible above surface.

Young Mola mola swimming at the surface (November 3, 2025)

Two sea lions nuzzle each other in the water, with rippling waves around them.

California sea lions touching noses in the harbor (November 3, 2025)

Brown bird with long wings flies over the ocean under a cloudy sky.

Beautiful Black-footed albatross flying by over the swells (November 3, 2025)

Humpback whale breaching the ocean surface under a clear sky.

Chex Mix the Humpback calf breaching in the afternoon light (November 2, 2025)

Humpback whale's head emerging from ocean water with barnacles visible.

Humpback whale spy hopping during a competitive group encounter as four males chased a female around our boat (November 2, 2025)

Humpback whale tail splashing water in the ocean.

Male Humpback whale “William” fluking up dramatically as he pursues a female Humpback whale (November 1, 2025)

Two sea lions emerging from the water with splashes around them.

Sea lions porpoising out of the water together to catch up with feeding Humpback whales (November 1, 2025)

Whale tail rising from ocean with water cascading off edges.

Moody morning Humpback whale fluke up on a foggy day (November 1, 2025)

Sea lion leaping out of water with ocean backdrop.

Leaping California sea lion (November 1, 2025)

Humpback whale breaching water with two birds flying above on a clear day.

Humpback whale lunge feeding (November 1, 2025)

LATEST SIGHTINGS

MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS IN THE MONTEREY BAY