LATEST SIGHTINGS

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

Since September 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) 9/27 1:30 p.m. 25 Humpback whales 1 Mola mola 9/27 10 a.m. 37 Humpback whales 700 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/27 9 a.m. 20 Humpback whales (lunge feeding) 500 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/26 1:30 p.m. 40 Humpback whales 200 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/26 10 a.m. 25 Humpback whales 9/26 9 a.m. 31 Humpback whales 9/25 10 a.m. 30 Humpback whales 2000 Long-beaked common dolphin 1 Mola mola 9/25 9 a.m. 40 Humpback whales 2000 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/24 9 a.m. 7 Orca (CA51As + CA50B) 30 Humpback whales 1000 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/23 1:30 p.m. 3 Orca (CA51As) 10 Humpback whales 9/23 10 a.m. 4 Orca (CA51As) 18 Humpback whales 9/23 9 a.m. 4 Orca (CA51As) 12 Humpback whales 200 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/22 9 a.m. 10 Orca (CA51As, CA50B Jimmy, CA27s) 1 Humpback whale 9/21 1:30 p.m. 3 Orca (CA51A2 Andi, CA51A2A Astrid, CA50B Jimmy) 20 Humpback whales 9/21 9 a.m. 3 Orca (CA51A2 Andi, CA51A2A Astrid, CA50B Jimmy) 34 Humpback whales 300 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/20 1:30 p.m. 30 Humpback whales 150 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/20 10 a.m. 7 Orca (CA51As + CA50B Jimmy) 2 Humpback whales 9/20 9 a.m. 7 Orca (CA51As + CA50B Jimmy) 20 Humpback whales 9/19 1:30 p.m. 40 Humpback whales 200 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/19 10 a.m. 30 Humpback whales (breaching, pec slapping) 500 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/19 9 a.m. 30 Humpback whales 200 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/18 1:30 p.m. 30 Humpback whales (breaching) 9/18 9 a.m. 7 Orca (CA51As & CA50B) 30 Humpback whales 1 Blue shark 9/17 1:30 p.m. 3 Orca (CA51As – Andi, Astrid, CA50B Jimmy) 2 Humpback whales 9/17 9 a.m. 3 Orca (CA51As – Andi, Astrid, CA50B Jimmy) 33 Humpback whales 9/16 9 a.m. 4 Orca (CA51As – Aurora, Dipper, Nova, Cassie) 12 Humpback whales 200 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/15 1:30 p.m. 20 Humpback whales 100 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/15 9 a.m. 3 Orca (CA51As – Andi, Astrid, CA50B Jimmy) 18 Humpback whales 9/14 1:30 p.m. 7 Orca (CA51As, CA140Bs) 9/14 10 a.m. 10 Orca (CA51As, CA50B, CA27Es) 28 Humpback whales 9/14 9 a.m. 10 Orca (CA51As, CA50B, CA27Es) 35 Humpback whales 200 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/13 10 a.m. 34 Humpback whales 9/13 9 a.m. 33 Humpback whales 75 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/12 10 a.m. 17 Humpback whales 100 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/11 5 p.m. 20 Humpback whales (friendly mugging) 9/11 1:30 p.m. 8 Humpback whales 50 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/11 9 a.m. 5 Orca (CA51As, CA50B) 22 Humpback whales (friendly mugging) 300 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/10 1:30 p.m. 63 Humpback whales 9/10 9 a.m. 54 Humpback whales 500 Long-beaked common dolphin 1,000+ Bonito (fish) 9/10 9 a.m. 30 Humpback whales 150 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/9 1:30 p.m. 38 Humpback whales 9/9 9 a.m. 52 Humpback whales 9/8 1:30 p.m. 24 Humpback whales 9/8 9 a.m. 32 Humpback whales 150 Risso’s dolphin 4 Bottlenose dolphin 9/7 5 p.m. Sunset 10 Orcas (CA51As, CA50B, CA27Es) 9/7 2:30 p.m. 10 Orcas (CA51As, CA50B, CA27Es) 10 Humpback whales 9/7 1:30 p.m. 10 Orcas (CA51As, CA50B, CA27Es) 22 Humpback whales 9/7 10 a.m. 10 Orcas (CA51As, CA50B, CA27Es) 25 Humpback whales 9/7 9 a.m. 10 Orcas (CA51As, CA50B, CA27Es) 30 Humpback whales (friendly mugging) 100 Risso’s dolphin (spyhopping, breaching, kelping, pec + tail slapping) 9/7 8 Hour All Day 10 Orcas (CA51As, CA50B, CA27Es) 20 Humpback whales 9/6 1:30 p.m. 15 Humpback whales 20 Risso’s dolphin 9/6 9 a.m. 33 Humpback whales 75 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/5 2:30 p.m. 12 Humpback whales 9/5 1:30 p.m. 8 Humpback whales 50 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/5 10 a.m. 15 Humpback whales 150 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/5 9 a.m. 22 Humpback whales (friendly) 2 Harbor porpoise 9/4 1:30 p.m. 2 Humpback whales (chronic breaching) 9/4 10 a.m. 26 Humpback whales (breaching, pec slapping, tail throwing) 9/4 9 a.m. 22 Humpback whales (breaching, friendly) 1 Minke whale 9/3 2:30 p.m. 9 Humpback whales (kelping) 9/3 10 a.m. 1 Killer whale (CA50B Jimmy) 24 Humpback whales 9/3 9 a.m. 1 Killer whale (CA50B Jimmy) 24 Humpback whales 10 Risso’s dolphin 9/2 1:30 p.m. 24 Humpback whales 9/2 9 a.m. 27 Humpback whales 9/1 1:30 p.m. 8 Humpback whales 150 Long-beaked common dolphin 9/1 9 a.m. 20 Humpback whales 60 Long-beaked common dolphin Photos © 2026 Daniel Bianchetta and Morgan Quimby   Humpback whale calf breaching (September 1, 2026)   Long-beaked common dolphin breaching (September 1, 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.