Whale Watching in Monterey Bay CA

This summer has brought back large schools of anchovies to the Monterey Bay and feeding on them are many pods of humpback whales. Since friends and fellow shutter bugs from Kona are visiting for a few days, we decide to book a whale watching trip.

Planning pow-pow after breakfast

Discussion over maps

We sign up online with Sanctuary Cruises out of Moss Landing. It's a foggy afternoon for our whale watching trip.  There's a few tense moments before we go on board as their computer apparently assigned too many people to our trip. It was helpful to have a print out of our reservation in hand.

We huddle at Moss Landing - Liza, Paul, David, me and Peter

Crew member counting noses before the trip

One couple spot a friend going out on his own boat, so they decide to jump ship leaving enough room for everybody. We all happily climb aboard the Sanctuary.

David points out some sights

Liza and Paul are ready with their cameras

We're ready too

We cast off and chug slowly through the harbor out towards the bay.

Commercial fishing boat at dock

Sea Lions casually watch our passing

Another fishing vessel at dock

As we pass the rock jetty bordering the harbor, notice a large flock of brown pelicans. These birds have come back from the brink of extinction after almost being wiped out from DDT. Photographers with expensive long lens are also out on the rocks going for the perfect pelican shot.

Brown pelicans on rock jetty

Pelican photographer

Oooo - now that's a LENS

Although it seems longer, we are soon past the jetty and in the main channel. The bay is teeming with life - birds, sea lions, and whales - all come to feast on the anchovy run.

Almost free of the harbor

We first see large flocks of murres

Then fast moving sea lions keep pace with our boat

For several anxious moments we don't see any sign of the whales, and then  ...

Thar she blows!

Humpback back with other blows

and lots whale tails

Whale flipper slapping water

Flagging whale tail

Diving whale tail

Liza captures a great sequence showing unusual whale hunting behavior. A line of whales move in unison breathing and diving while feasting on anchovies.

Of course we all want to get a great shot of a whale breaching full body out of the water. We scan the bay and rarely see any breaches at all. Then suddenly a large humpback breaches right next to us. We are so amazed at the sight that none of us has the presence of mine to grab our cameras in time. Liza does get a snap of the enormous splash left behind. Sigh, these kind of shots take practice and lots of luck.

Major splash left after a breach

The time passes quickly and before we realize, it's time to turn back towards the harbor. As we do, a large raft of sea lions race towards us with amazing speed and agility through the water.

Here come the sea lions

Wow - they are fast

One last dive and they're gone

Power plant by Moss Landing Harbor

Fishing boat passes us as we head back to the dock

Cormorants roosting on old pilings

The sea lions seem to call us to return another time

Moss Landing cottage

We wander to Phil's Fish Market in search of fresh fish and are rewarded with freshly caught halibut.

Peter greets a local

and releases his inner Rocker.

Paul & Peter at Phil's

On our way back home, the fog is finally starting to lift.

Snowy egret in Elkhorn Slough

Back to sunny Corralitos

It's been a great day - one to remember.

Peter, Paul, Liza, me & David

Sun bursting through the redwoods