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 April 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.

Visit our Facebook page for more photos and descriptions

Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project
Date	#	Type of Animal(s)
4/29 9 a.m.	13	Humpback whales (feeding with 500+ sea lions)
	800	Northern right whale dolphin
	600	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	20	Risso’s dolphin

4/28 1:30 p.m.	2	Humpback whales
	30	Risso’s dolphin

4/28 9 a.m.	1	Blue whale
	3	Humpback whales
	120	Risso’s dolphin
	60	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	50	Northern right whale dolphin

4/28 8 Hour All Day	6	Humpback whales
	120	Risso’s dolphin
	60	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	50	Northern right whale dolphin

4/27 1:30 p.m.	15	Humpback whales
	5	Pacific white-sided dolphin

4/27 10 a.m.	20	Humpback whales (lunge feeding)
	500	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	100	Northern right whale dolphin
	50	Risso’s dolphin

4/27 9 a.m.	1	Fin whale
	15	Humpback whales (lunge feeding)
	200	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	200	Northern right whale dolphin
	1	Mola mola (eating Velella velella!)

4/27 8 Hour All Day	19	Humpback whales (very friendly pair!)

4/26 1:30 p.m.	1	Blue whale

4/26 10 a.m.	5	Humpback whales (breach)
	2000	Northern right whale dolphin
	1000	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	1	Great white shark

4/26 9 a.m.	2	Humpback whales
	2000	Northern right whale dolphin
	1000	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	1	Cocos booby

4/26 8 Hour All Day	1	Blue whale
	12	Humpback whales
	2400	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	2100	Northern right whale dolphin

4/25 2:30 p.m.	1	Humpback whale

4/25 1:30 p.m.	1	Blue whale
	4	Humpback whales

4/25 10 a.m.	4	Fin whales
	3	Humpback whales
	200	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	70	Northern right whale dolphin
	50	Risso’s dolphin

4/25 9 a.m.	4	Fin whales
	7	Humpback whales
	300	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	10	Northern right whale dolphin
	20	Risso’s dolphin

4/25 8 Hour All Day	3	Fin whales
	4	Humpback whale
	30	Northern right whale dolphin
	200	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	1	Common dolphin
	1	Harbor porpoise
	1	Mola mola (eating Velella velella)

4/24 2:30 p.m.	7	Orcas (CA51As + CA50B)
	5	Harbor porpoise

4/24 10 a.m.	7	Orcas (CA51As + CA50B)
	1	Common dolphin

4/24 9 a.m.	7	Orcas (CA51As + CA50B)
	1	Humpback whale
	50	Risso’s dolphin

4/24 8 Hour All Day	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)
	1	Humpback whale
	50	Risso’s dolphin

4/23 9 a.m.	14	Humpback whales
	10	Risso’s dolphin

4/23 8 Hour All Day	4	Humpback whales
	120	Risso’s dolphin

4/22 9 a.m.	2	Humpback whales

4/22 8 Hour All Day	5	Orca (CA200s)
	1	Humpback whale

4/21		No trips – Too windy!

4/20 10 a.m.	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)

4/20 9 a.m.	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)
	350	Risso’s dolphin

4/20 8 Hour All Day	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)
	1	Humpback whales
	600	Risso’s dolphin
	20	Pacific white-sided dolphin

4/19 1:30 p.m.	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)
	2	Humpback whales
	40	Risso’s dolphin

4/19 10 a.m.	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)
	1	Humpback whales
	25	Risso’s dolphin
	2	Harbor porpoise

4/19 9 a.m.	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)
	2	Fin whales (cow/calf pair)
	100	Northern right whale dolphin
	100	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	25	Risso’s dolphin

4/19 8 Hour All Day	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)
	1	Humpback whales
	30	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	5	Risso’s dolphin

4/19 9 a.m.	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)
	1	Humpback whales
	30	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	5	Risso’s dolphin

4/18 10 a.m.	1	Gray whale
	20	Risso’s dolphin

4/18 8 Hour All Day	2	Gray whales
	1	Humpback whales
	70	Risso’s dolphin
	10	Black-footed albatross

4/17 8 Hour All Day	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)
	2	Humpback whales

4/16 9 a.m.	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B chasing a Minke whale!)
	2	Humpback whales
	8	Risso’s dolphin
	6	Black-footed albatross

4/16 8 Hour All Day	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B chasing a Minke whale!)
	2	Humpback whales
	20	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	30	Risso’s dolphin

4/15 9 a.m.	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)
	50	Risso’s dolphin

4/14 9 a.m.	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)

4/14 8 Hour All Day	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)
	1	Humpback whale

4/13 10 a.m.	2	Humpback whales
	400	Risso’s dolphin
	3	Northern right whale dolphin
	100	Pacific white-sided dolphin

4/13 9 a.m.	3	Humpback whales (cow/calf friendly mugging!)
	40	Risso’s dolphin
	1	Mola mola

4/13 8 Hour All Day	3	Humpback whales
	500	Risso’s dolphin
	10	Pacific white-sided dolphin

4/12		No trips – Too windy!

4/11 9 a.m.	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)
	10	Risso’s dolphin

4/11 8 Hour All Day	7	Orcas (CA51As + CA50B)
	50	Risso’s dolphin
	5	Black-footed albatross

4/10 9 a.m.	7	Orcas (CA51As + CA50B)
	1	Humpback whale
	50	Risso’s dolphin

4/10 8 Hour All Day	7	Orcas (CA51As + CA50B)
	1	Humpback whale
	150	Risso’s dolphin

4/9 1:30 p.m.	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)

4/9 10 a.m.	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)

4/9 9 a.m.	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)
	40	Long-beaked common dolphin

4/9 8 Hour All Day	7	Orca (CA51As + CA50B)

4/8 1:30 p.m.	15	Goose-beaked whales (rare!)
	20	Long-beaked common dolphin

4/8 10 a.m.	1	Humpback whales
	20	Long-beaked common dolphin
	3	Black-footed albatross

4/8 9 a.m.	1	Humpback whales
	20	Long-beaked common dolphin
	2	Risso’s dolphin

4/7 2 p.m.	1	Humpback whale (extremely friendly!)

4/7 9 a.m.	4	Humpback whales (tail throws)

4/6 1:30 p.m.	3	Gray whales
	3	Humpback whales (tail lobbing)

4/6 9 a.m.	4	Orca (CA51As – Andi, Dipper, Astrid, Nova)
	1	Humpback whale

4/6 8 Hour All Day	7	Orca (CA51As, CA50B)
	1	Humpback whale

4/5 2:30 p.m.	7	Humpback whales
	250	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	10	Northern right whale dolphin
	50	Risso’s dolphin

4/5 1:30 p.m.	5	Humpback whales
	500	Risso’s dolphin (Casper!)
	200	Northern right whale dolphin
	30	Pacific white-sided dolphin

4/5 10 a.m.	4	Gray whales
	6	Humpback whales (pec slapping)
	1500	Northern right whale dolphin
	1200	Risso’s dolphin (Casper!)
	15	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	1	Elephant seal

4/5 9 a.m.	10	Gray whales
	4	Humpback whales
	1500	Northern right whale dolphin
	1200	Risso’s dolphin (Casper!)
	150	Pacific white-sided dolphin

4/4 2:30 p.m.	4	Gray whales
	300	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	10	Northern right whale dolphin

4/4 10 a.m.	2	Humpback whales
	350	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	1	Blue shark

4/4 9 a.m.	2	Humpback whales
	35	Risso’s dolphin

4/4 8 Hour All Day	5	Fin whales
	2	Gray whales
	1	Humpback whale
	800	Risso’s dolphin
	600	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	30	Northern right whale dolphin
	1	Laysan albatross (rare!)

4/3 1:30 p.m.	4	Humpback whales (breach)
	50	Common dolphin

4/3 10 a.m.	2	Humpback whales
	6	Dall’s porpoise
	200	Northern right whale dolphin
	200	Pacific white-sided dolphin

4/3 9 a.m.	7	Humpback whales
	20o	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	20	Northern right whale dolphin
	2	Mola mola

4/2 9 a.m.	9	Orca (prey sharing, celebratory play behaviors!)
	1	Humpback whale

4/1 10 a.m.		24 Humpback whales (friendly!)

4/1 9 a.m.	9	Orca
	25	Humpback whales (friendly!)
	150	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	100	Northern right whale dolphin

Orca swimming near the surface with land in the background.

Orca hunting a sea lion (April 14, 2026)

Whale swimming in the ocean near a boat with people on board.

Female orca CA51A2 “Andi” surfacing near our vessel the Blackfin (April 14, 2026)

Two Risso's dolphins surfacing in the ocean, one with visible markings.

Risso’s dolphin mother and calf surfacing together (April 13, 2026)

A dolphin jumping out of the water in the ocean.

Risso’s dolphin breaching (April 13, 2026)

Orca breaching in ocean with buoy in background.

Orca surfacing fast during a hunt (April 11, 2026)

Orca breaching high above ocean water against a cloudy sky.

Orca calf breaching backwards (April 11, 2026)

Orca breaching the surface of the ocean with splash.

Female orca porpoising fast during a hunt (April 11, 2026)

Orca leaping from ocean with coastal landscape in background.

Orca calf breaching sideways on a windy morning (April 11, 2026)

Pod of dolphins swimming in the ocean under a cloudy sky.

CA51As pod surfacing together (April 10, 2026)

Sea otter floating on back, playing with kelp in water.

Southern sea otter resting in kelp by the breakwater wall (April 10, 2026)

Orca breaching water against a cloudy sky backdrop.

Orca calf displaying a high spy hop breach (April 9, 2026)

Two orcas swimming with one partially above water in the ocean.

Orca calf surfacing with kelp in her mouth alongside male orca “Jimmy” (April 9, 2026)

A large gray whale surfacing in blue ocean water.

Cuvier’s beaked whale surfacing – a rare sighting for the bay! (April 8, 2026)

Orca breaching water beside a bird in flight.

Killer whale calf “Nova” tossing a Brandt’s cormorant into the air (April 6, 2026)

Whale tail slaps water, flinging a seal into the air.

Killer whale CA51A2 “Andi” punting a sea lion with her flukes during a hunt (April 6, 2026)

Orca surfacing vertically in calm blue ocean.

Killer whale spy hopping after taking down a sea lion (April 6, 2026)

Orca emerging from ocean with prey in its mouth.

Orca calf spy-hopping with a common murre seabird in her mouth (April 6, 2026)

Orca breaching vertically out of the ocean water.

Orca spy-hopping to look at the passengers on the bow of our ship (April 6, 2026)

Orca swimming near the ocean surface with glossy water reflections.

CA50B “Jimmy” surfacing right by the boat with part of a sea lion carcass (April 6, 2026)

Gray whale in blue ocean with water ripples, tail visible.

Gray whale rolling around at the surface (April 5, 2026)

Close-up of a gray whale partially submerged in ocean water.

Gray whale rolling around at the surface with eye open (April 5, 2026)

Risso's dolphin breaching water with blue ocean background.

Risso’s dolphin spy hopping (April 5, 2026)

White whale surfacing with dorsal fin visible in blue ocean.

Casper the Risso’s dolphin surfacing with a podmate (April 5, 2026)

Dolphin swimming, causing water splashes and reflection on the surface.

Northern right whale dolphin surfacing at the bow with eye open (April 5, 2026)

Dolphin jumping above ocean water surface.

Northern right whale dolphin porpoising out of the water at the bow (April 5, 2026)

Pod of dolphins leaping through the ocean's surface.

Incredible stampede of hundreds of Northern right whale dolphin (April 5, 2026)

Large group of dolphins diving in the ocean with splashes.

Incredible stampede of hundreds of Northern right whale dolphin (April 5, 2026)

California sea lion just below the surface before taking a breath (April 4, 2026)

Two sea otters swimming in the ocean, partially submerged.

Southern sea otter mom and pup pair in the harbor (April 4, 2026)

A dolphin leaps out of the ocean water, creating a splash.

Common dolphin leaping alongside the boat (April 4, 2026)

Dolphin leaping out of the water, creating splashes in the ocean.

Pacific white-sided dolphin leaping in the boats wake (April 4, 2026)

Orca tail splashing in the ocean with distant mountains in the background.

Killer whale tail lobbing upside down (April 2, 2026)

Orca breaching in the ocean with distant coastline in the background.

Killer whale breaching on its side (April 2, 2026)

Orca tail rising above ocean surface, water splashing around.

Killer whale fluke waving at the surface (April 2, 2026)

Two orcas swimming side by side in the ocean with dorsal fins visible.

Brothers Orion and Bumper swimming alongside each other (April 1, 2026)

Group of orcas swimming in the ocean under a cloudy sky.

CA51 and CA140B orca pods swimming together (April 1, 2026)

Orca swimming with dorsal fin above water in ocean.

CA51C Bumper surfacing alongside the boat (April 1, 2026)

People on a boat watching a whale spouting water in the ocean.

Friendly Humpback whale “mugging” the boat! (April 1, 2026)

LATEST SIGHTINGS

MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS IN THE MONTEREY BAY