These massive, itinerant mammals travel from feeding grounds in the bering sea to mating and breeding lagoons along baja california in mexico. The entire gray whale population migrates past the monterey coastline every winter and spring. Download a beautiful humpback whale wallpaper from the monterey bay aquarium. Our renowned skippers have the skills, knowledge and experience to navigate our huge marine sanctuary. A week of insane whale sightings in monterey bay got even crazier wednesday, when a pod of nine killer whales attacked a gray whale calf right in front of a whale watching tour boat. Swim with dolphins in mexico, caribbean and jamaica at dolphin discovery up to 39% off. These dolphins are frequently sighted in groups ranging from 100 to over 2,000 animals. Kayak with humpback whales in monterey bay, moss landing. Monterey bay is the premier destination for whale watching all year.
A monterey bay whale watching trip with blue ocean whale watch is the perfect activity for families, ecotourists, and photographers. Pacific whitesided dolphins, rissos dolphins, northern right whale dolphins, and common dolphins occur in monterey bay year round. Monterey bay whale watch is owned and operated by nancy black, the marine biologist who accompanies most trips. Given the proximity of where the whales typically feed near monterey bay, this is plenty of time to find them.
Also commonly sighted while whale watching off the monterey coast are humpback whales and orcas, and. Since this whale is a picky eater it will only eat krill or pelagic crabs, it may travel up to 30 miles a day in search of this prized food. Fast raft ocean safaris whale watching tours on monterey. And search more of istocks library of royaltyfree stock images that features animal photos available for quick and easy download. Oct 25, 2016 monterey bay for the first time in five years, a sperm whale has been sighted in the monterey bay. As salmon season opens, fishermen warned to watch for otters. Humpback whale watching in monterey bay, california ever in. Vacation whale watching activities in california expedia.
The best time for whale watching in california usa today. Best time for whale watching in california condor express. The monterey bay national marine sanctuary is the largest us marine sanctuary with a shoreline length of 276 miles 444 km from just north of san franciscos golden gate bridge to cambria. Join us in big sur to watch humpback whales swim near shore. It has a unique and diverse marine ecosystem and it is home to 34 species of mammals. Its especially true about monterey bay in central california. See humpback whales, orcas, grey whales and more on a whale.
Monterey bay whale watch offers yearround whale watching trips to observe the. Killer whales, minke whales, and fin whales are occasionally sighted during this season as well. When summer rolls around, the blue whale comes to monterey to eat the monterey bay is a great spot for gulping tons of krill. Monterey bay whale watching with sanctuary cruises orcas. Visit the evans monterey web site for more information or to take an online tour. Monterey, california is an excellent destination for a whale watching tour. California is one of the only places in the world where visitors can see whales yearround, and theres no better place for whale watching than monterey. Humpback whale narrowly misses fishing boat as it bursts. View humpback, blue, gray, and killer whales plus a variety of dolphins. Our daily whale watch trips are narrated by a marine biologist or naturalist who provides educational and interesting information about whales, dolphins, and a wide variety of marine wildlife. While whales frequent the area waters throughout the year, there are specific seasons for individual species. Killer whale season whale watch trips monterey bay whale watch.
Both have spent over 30 years studying the killer whales off the california. April is our best month to spot orcas in the bay as they hunt for gray whale calves on their northward migration. The best time to see gray whales off the monterey coast is from september to april, for example, while blue whales are in good supply from march to october. Our lowtothewater boat, ranger, is comfortable, quiet, and highly maneuverable, offering an incredible perspective of marine wildlife and beautiful coastal scenery. If stood on end, an adult fin whale would be as tall as a sevenstory building, weighing as much as a fully loaded military tank.
Monterey bay whale watch 2020 all you need to know. Even though the whales arrive sometime around march till about november sometimes they stay all year, they really can only be reached by kayak for a few select. We have the most experienced skippers in northern california. These whales have one of the longest animal migrations known, traveling over 12,000 miles from their summer feeding grounds in the bering sea to their winter breeding grounds in baja california and back again. Fortunately, whale watching season in southern california can include almost any time of the year if you know where to go.
In the 1970s, most species of whales were hard to spot, as their populations were still low due to whaling. Text supplied by monterey bay whale watch, a supplier of whale watching boat tours in monterey bay. Pdf download our local big sur visitors guide, in adobe pdf. California s state fish and wildlife chief is poised to delay this falls commercial dungeness crab season for eight days under a legal settlement requiring him to exercise greater control.
An attack last week on a gray whale calf by a group of 17 killer whales signified the beginning. While in many areas whale watchers have to go far from shore to see a whale, along the monterey coast whales can sometimes be. California the best tips for whale watching in california whaletrips. We have two seasons for whale watching in addition to pelagic seabird. Monterey bay whales are magnificent to watch in their natural environment. Photographer douglas croft and whale watcher kate cummings took the. Monterey bay whale watch 2020 all you need to know before. Monterey bay whale watch is the leading nature tour provider in what is widely recognized. Last season the peak whale spotting week in palos verdes was jan 2430. This means you are very likely to see whales and dolphins on a sanctuary whale watching trip. Humpback whale tail slapping in monterey bay california. Statistics collected by the california department of fish and wildlife indicate that between 2003 and 2017, a total. Monterey whale watching the best time of year to take a tour.
The local population of several hundred humpbacks are known to spend the winter months off of the mexican coast and then migrate to the central california coast for the feeding season. We use 99% cleanburning biodiesel instead of dirty, smelly petroleum diesel in our brand new john deere engines. The monterey bay is richly diverse in marine life and has become a gathering place for marine mammals, sea birds, and fish alike. This type of orca roams the california coastal waters far and wide in search of other marine mammals seals, dolphins and whales to prey upon. Theyre expected to stick around monterey bay, zigzagging and patrolling the deep water, for at least the next few weeks. They can swim up to 14 miles per hour and can hold their breath up to 45 minutes between breaches, making them a very rare whale watching sight. California is one of the best places in the world for whale watching. In monterey, january is gray whale watching season. Try going different times of the year to experience the variety of wildlife that flourishes in the nutrientrich waters of the monterey bay.
Princess monterey whale watching offers whale watching tours all year long. While whales frequent the area waters throughout the year, there are specific seasons for. With a maximum of six passengers, each tour is customized to the unique desires of our guests. Whales invade californias monterey bay video abc news.
Special trips emphasizing killer whales take place in april and may. They offer two to five trips a day depending on the season. Monterey the officially trademarked whale watching capital of the worldhosts the unofficial kickoff for whale watching season. Whale watching in california come and experience california s yearround whale fest. I was on a half day whale watching tour with the monterey bay whale watch which is one of a few operations that do whale watching from old fishermans wharf in monterey. As the spring season progresses, our local humpbacks will return to the bay for the summer and fall seasons. Our crew is passionate about marine life and has been working in the whale watch industry for years. Nancy has a masters of marine science degree from moss landing marine laboratories, has worked with whales and dolphins in the region for over 25 years, and has become an expert in the biology of killer whales off the california. To make the monterey and santa cruz area even more appealing, the whalewatching season is the longest in the state of california, lasting more or less all year.
Apr 28, 2017 a gray whale off the baja california peninsula. Monterey bay whale watch whale watching trips on monterey bay, one of the best things to do in monterey, viewing whales and dolphins off the coast of monterey, moss landing, carmel, big sur, and the central california coast. See allday whale watch trips in killer whale season for details. This is also the peak time of year to sight killer whales otherwise known as orcas. Download a beautiful, highresolution humpback whale wallpaper for your. Chris whale watching whale watching monterey, ca 93940. Its a great time to do a whale watching tour in california. There are two seasons for whale watching in monterey bay, home of a worldfamous aquarium. Monterey bay whale watch offers yearround whale watching trips to observe the spectacular diversity and abundance of whales and dolphins inhabiting the bay.
Princess monterey specialty cruises whale watching in. Visit from middecember through midapril to see gray whales, dolphins and killer whales migrating, or. Its one of the most amazing wildlife migrations on the planet. Whale watching monterey bay national marine sanctuary. Princess monterey whale watching has the two largest and finest whale watching vessels on monterey bay. This time of year, brings an amazing mix of wildlife.
But spotting a blue whale let alone a dozen blue whales is much more rare. Visitors can observe them from the shore in monterey submarine canyon and santa cruz, which. A variety of marine wildlife can be encountered 12 months of the year in the monterey bay. If you want to do some monterey whale watching, the best time of year to take a tour depends heavily on the kinds of species that you wish to see.
Late spring, summer and fall trips monterey bay whale watch. Killer whale season whale watch trips in april and may 2020. Depending on the season, whales and dolphins that are frequently observed include gray. Whale alert can be downloaded free of charge from apples app store. After parking, walk down the wharf with all the restaurants and shops. Southern california whale watching tours depart from most harbors along the coast. When i was a kid in area, the only whale watching boats doubled as deep sea fishing boats in the early morning then got hosed off and reused as sightseeing boats in the afternoon. Our trips depart from monterey harbor, which is an ideal place for local activities before or after your trip such as monterey fishermans wharf, monterey bay aquarium, cannery row and the scenic coast line of pacific grove. Monterey bay whale watch, humpbacks and dolphins, 41417. In choosing a whale tour operator, one has to consider the size of the boat and marine conditions. Sanctuary cruises is the only sustainable charter boat on the monterey bay.
Fast raft ocean safaris are the most exhilarating way to explore the beautiful monterey bay national marine sanctuary. Gray whale the entire gray whale population migrates past the monterey coastline every winter and spring. Both vessels are made for your comfort and have indoor heated cabins with large windows for viewing. The northbound gray whales are passing through monterey bay, including moms and calves. But today its thanks to a than usual late season abundance of and be. The monterey bay coastal trail extends along a large part of monterey bay and around the monterey peninsula. Monterey bay, california study area, showing systematic survey fig. Great for desktop, mobile, android or iphone backgrounds or a facebook. Cassie asked her to share her experiences and her whale watching monterey photos in this post. Scheduled on selected days during the summerfall season. Dungeness commercial crab season likely to be delayed over. Monterey bay whale watch whale watching monterey, ca 93940.
Wheelchair accessible whale watching tours disability access. Years and years the feeding frenzy is a once in a lifetime show. Humpback whales gorge in monterey bay the mercury news. May, 20 whale watching on the monterey bay, california. Every year, humpbacks whale migrate north from their winter and breeding grounds down in southern mexicon and central america to feed in the cold waters of monterey bay, california. Aug 10, 2017 for the past few weeks, at least 50 to 75 humpback whales have been gorging on krill and anchovies in the monterey bay, delighting boaters and whale watching groups. No matter when you go, youre likely to see one or more whale species, which may be migrating. Gray whales are no longer endangered, and humpback and blue whale numbers have increased quite a bit. To determine whale season for whale watching, it is best to first research the specific species of whale youd like to see and when whale migration season is in southern california. However, when booking with chris whale watching, not only are you guaranteed to see the whales, you are also guaranteed an affordable rate that is not heavy on the wallet. We were so lucky to join the allday trip at monterey bay whale watch, which is owned and operated by a marine biologist nancy black.
Our biodiesel is made in central california entirely from recycled waste vegetable oil collected from central california restaurants. The whale only just missed hitting the small fishing boat before crashing back into the sea in monterey bay, california. We have been featured in national geographic, bbc and discovery channel. Long beach, newport beach, dana point, oceanside, and san diego all offer whale watching. Largest of the toothed whales, sperm whales are unique and easy to identify.
Our fleet consists of the finest and most stable boats in the bay. The best coastal perches for whale watching in northern. On our whale watching tours youll get a once in a lifetime educational experience. Nancy black is the owner of mbww and has been studying monterey bays marine life for more than 30 years. Check the california whale migration season calendar and schedule your cruise. From april through november the humpback whale is the most common whale found out of monterey bay. During peak season, its almost guaranteed youll see gray whales or humpbacks in monterey bay.
Up to 23% off whale watching at sea goddess whale watching. Monterey bay whale watch is the only whale watch tour that is owned and operated by experienced marine biologists. Whale watching in monterey bay, california our wanders. No matter when you go, youre likely to see one or more whale species, which may be migrating through the area or feeding in the bay. Gray whales swim about 5 miles an hour, meaning the journey from monterey, california to palos verdes takes about 3 days. Whale watching near monterey explore monterey s canyon of the whales because of the cold, foodrich 1mile1. To make the monterey and santa cruz area even more appealing, the whale watching season is the longest in the state of california, lasting more or less all year. Killer whales go on unprecedented killing spree in monterey. The california gray whale is one of the most commonly seen whales in monterey bay. April is our best month to spot orcas in the bay as they hunt for gray whale calves on.
Monterey is the best place in the nation to view a variety of marine mammals and seabirds. Home discovery whale watch monterey whale watching. Whale watching monterey and santa cruz what to know. Education discovery whale watch monterey whale watching. Download this humpback whale tail slapping in monterey bay california photo now. Mar 20, 2020 monterey bay whale watch is the only whale watch tour that is owned and operated by experienced marine biologists. From the far north to the mexican border, california s pristine waters play center stage to muchloved visitors such as humpbacks and orcas, as well as gray whales, who follow the entire coast on their yearly migration. Since gray whales became protected in california in 1946, their population has rebounded from about 2,000 to over 21,000. A few thousand of them can be found along the california coast. Yearround the orcas, or killer whales, that frequent monterey bay are known as transients. Here are some of the spectacular displays spotted humpback whale watching, monterey bay. Its over a 90% chance youll see a whale on any given month because our two main seasons, the feeding season and the migrating season overlap. California gray whales are the most commonly seen baleen whale in monterey bay.
Each year, about 20,000 gray whales make an epic 6,000mile journey between alaska and mexicoand then back again. Offering the most unique event venue on monterey baya private yacht cruising the beautiful bay. Monterey with the arrival of spring comes the arrival of the killer whales to monterey bay. Princess monterey whale watching experience monterey. While in many areas whale watchers have to go far from shore to see a whale, along the monterey coast whales can sometimes be seen offshore with the naked eye. Monterey bay whale watch offers yearround whale watching trips led by professional marine biologists. If youve ever wanted to go whale watching in california, now is the time to do it. The whales of monterey bay santa cruz whale watching. Tours depart from moss landing harbor, which is halfway between santa cruz and monterey at the heart of the monterey bay and the closest port to the nutrientrich monterey submarine canyon. Killer whale season in the monterey bay monterey herald. Often referred to as the whale watching capital of the world, here are the most common whales you will see while whale watching monterey bay along with some other delightful creatures. Monterey bay whale watch in monterey california on. Again this spring at monterey bay whale watch, were featuring allday trips with marine biologist and captain nancy black and her dogs as cocaptains. Whatever occasion you happen to be celebrating, being on a boat makes it that much more special.
The next three weeks should be fine whale watching days when the weather is good and the winds are light. Gray whale tours start from monterey from december to april, the main times being february southward migration and april northward migration. Humpback whale watching in monterey bay, california ever. An attack last week on a gray whale calf by a group of 17 killer whales signified the beginning of killer whale season to many observers. And this is just the beginning of this years killer whale season. The monterey bay whale watching displays have been amazing this year. The orcas, or killer whales, that frequent monterey bay are known as transients.
162 1147 1236 1007 177 1006 1053 1452 1505 414 56 559 1219 195 448 628 879 415 774 981 1422 385 1170 29 1514 107 191 250 492 605 1323 660 1441 935 727 829 534 958 758 493 1016 551 480 382 88 404 1442