Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Most Recent Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
Since March 1, 2026
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) |
| 3/19 1:30 p.m. |
3 |
Humpback whales |
|
30 |
Harbor porpoise |
|
| 3/19 9 a.m. |
6 |
Gray whales |
|
1 |
Steller sea lion |
|
| 3/18 1:30 p.m. |
6 |
Gray whales |
|
| 3/18 10 a.m. |
4 |
Orca (CA35s, CA36) |
|
400 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
300 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 3/18 9 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback whales |
|
150 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
5 |
Harbor porpoise |
|
| 3/17 2:30 p.m. |
6 |
Orca (CA51s, CA216Cs) |
|
| 3/17 10 a.m. |
6 |
Orca (CA51As, CA216Cs) |
|
5 |
Humpback whales |
|
1 |
Minke whale |
|
| 3/17 9 a.m. |
6 |
Orca (CA51s, CA216Cs) |
|
| 3/16 1:30 p.m. |
14 |
Gray whales |
|
30 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 3/16 9 a.m. |
12 |
Orca (CA51As, CA216Cs, CA51As + CA50B) |
|
6 |
Gray whales |
|
50 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 3/15 1:30 p.m. |
6 |
Orca (CA51As & CA216Cs) |
|
3 |
Humpback whales |
|
20 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 3/15 10 a.m. |
6 |
Orca (CA51As & CA216Cs) |
|
3 |
Humpback whales |
|
15 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 3/15 9 a.m. |
6 |
Orca (CA51As & CA216Cs) |
|
3 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 3/14 1:30 p.m. |
5 |
Orca |
|
10 |
Humpback whales |
|
15 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 3/14 10 a.m. |
5 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 3/14 9 a.m. |
7 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 3/12 9 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 3/11 1:30 p.m. |
2 |
Gray whales |
|
| 3/11 9 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 3/10 9 a.m. |
4 |
Humpback whales |
|
12 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 3/9 9 a.m. |
5 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 3/8 1:30 p.m. |
1 |
Gray whales |
|
5 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 3/8 9 a.m. |
18 |
Gray whales |
|
30 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
100 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 3/7 10 a.m. |
23 |
Gray whales |
|
14 |
Humpback whales |
|
100 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
40 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
4 |
Northern right whale dolphin |
|
8 |
Black-footed albatross |
|
1 |
Steller sea lion |
|
1 |
Salmon shark |
|
1 |
Mola mola |
|
| 3/7 9 a.m. |
20 |
Gray whales |
|
70 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 3/7 8 a.m. All Day |
42 |
Humpback whales |
|
15 |
Gray whales |
|
300 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
30 |
Northern right whale dolphin |
|
1 |
Steller sea lion |
|
| 3/6 1:30 p.m. |
6 |
Gray whales |
|
50 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 3/6 10 a.m. |
3 |
Gray whales |
|
1 |
Black-footed albatross |
|
| 3/6 9 a.m. |
4 |
Gray whales |
|
| 3/5 |
|
No Trips (High winds) |
|
| 3/4 9 a.m. |
10 |
Gray whales |
|
165 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin (brownell’s morph!) |
|
75 |
Northern right whale dolphin (with calves) |
|
| 3/3 10 a.m. |
9 |
Gray whales (northbound) |
|
| 3/2 9 a.m. |
5 |
Humpback whales |
|
50+ |
Bluefin tuna |
|
13 |
Black-footed albatross |
|
| 3/1 1:30 p.m. |
3 |
Humpback whales (surface active) |
|
| 3/1 10 a.m. |
15 |
Gray whales |
|
5 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 3/1 9 a.m. |
25 |
Gray whales |
|
10 |
Humpback whales |
|
|
|
Photos © 2026 Daniel Bianchetta and Morgan Quimby
 CA216C spy-hopping to take a peek around (March 17, 2026)
 Calf CA216C2 rolling on its side to look at everyone on the boat! (March 17, 2026)
 Killer whales interacting by rolling around and tail slapping (March 17, 2026)
 Young orca tail slapping (March 17, 2026)
 Bumper the male orca tail slapping (March 17, 2026)
 Mother Andi surfacing with her calf Astrid and a beautiful “rain-blow” (March 16, 2026)
 Bumper surfacing with the beautiful hazy Monterey coastline in the background (March 16, 2026)
 The towering dorsal fins of brothers Bumper and Orion as they surfacing together (March 16, 2026)  Orca calf surfacing with it’s pod (March 16, 2026)
 CA50B and CA51As orca pod surfacing together (March 16, 2026)  CA51As orca pod surfacing together (March 16, 2026)
 Young killer whale spy-hopping next to a pod member (March 15, 2026)
 CA216C spy-hopping with her calf and fellow matriarch CA51 Star surfacing alongside her (March 15, 2026)
 Bumper’s iconic dorsal fin as he swims over a swell (March 15, 2026)
 Brothers Bumper and Orion surfacing together (March 15, 2026)
 Pelican shaking off water after a foraging plunge dive (March 14, 2026)
 Brandt’s cormorant swallowing anchovies after a successful foraging dive (March 14, 2026)
 Massive male Steller sea lion resting on the buoy with much smaller California sea lions (March 7, 2026)
 Gray whale pair engaging in social interactions at the surface (March 7, 2026)
 Pacific white-sided dolphin breaking the surface tension (March 7, 2026)
 Close up look at a Gray whale’s rostrum and blow holes (March 7, 2026)
 Massive male Steller sea lion resting on the buoy with much smaller California sea lions (March 7, 2026)
 Pacific white-sided dolphin displaying a back-flip behavior (March 4, 2026)
 Pacific white-sided dolphin with a Brownell’s color morph counterpart porpoising together (March 4, 2026)
 Bluefin tuna breaching out of the water in pursuit of small bait fish like anchovies (March 2, 2026)
Photos © 2026 Daniel Bianchetta and Morgan Quimby |
|
Copyright © 2026 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.
