What whales are off the California coast

There are three main species of whales that frequent the California Central Coast: Gray whales; Blue whales and Humpback whales. Additionally, Killer whales (orcas) are often seen in Monterey Bay as the gray whales pass through in the spring.

What species of whale can be seen migrating in the waters off California?

The California coastline witnesses seasonal migrations of gray whales, blue whales and humpback whales that travel south to mate before returning to northern waters with their calves.

What time of year do whales migrate in California?

January through March is an ideal time to see migrating gray whales along the California coast, with whales traveling both northward and southward. This is also the time during which gray whales arrive in Baja.

What whales are migrating right now in Southern California?

Here’s where to see them. A baby gray whale swims with its mother off Dana Point. The gray whales are back, hugging the California coast while they make their 10,000-mile journey from Alaska to breed in the warm-water lagoons of Baja, Mexico, and back.

Where can you see GREY whales in California?

You can see the gray whales anywhere along the California coast. Whale watching cruises operate from San Diego, Dana Point, Long Beach, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Half Moon Bay and San Francisco.

Are there whales in Monterey Bay?

Whale Watching Monterey Bay California – The Whales of Monterey Bay. From April through November the Humpback Whale is the most common whale found out of Monterey Bay. … Monterey Bay is a most abundant food source for these beautiful cetaceans. Humpback Whales are the most animated of all Baleen whales.

Are there orcas in Southern California?

While orcas are rare to see in Southern California, they do make a few appearances each year to the amazement of many lucky whale watchers that happen to be on boats during that time. … Other types of orcas like the offshore type specialize in eating ray, sharks, and other large fish.

Where are the GREY whales now?

Today, 23,000 gray whales are found only in the Pacific. The main population summers north of Alaska in the Bering and Chukchi Seas and winters in the waters of Baja California. Another population in the Pacific, found in the waters of Korea and Japan, is close to extinction with less than 50 individuals.

Are there orcas in California?

Seeing whales in Southern California is usually tied to the annual migrations of the grays between Mexico and Alaska. … The orcas, which have been seen more frequently in Southern California in the last four years, may be transients from Monterey Bay or they may be eastern tropical Pacifics, which come up from Mexico.

When can you see whales off the California coast?

In Northern California, your best time to spot gray whales and orcas is December to May. For humpbacks, visit May through November, and for blue whales, the largest animal on Earth, plan your stay sometime between July and October.

Article first time published on

Where can you see blue whales in California?

Blue whales are most likely to be spotted in Monterey Bay in summer or fall. They feed off the California coast from June through October. During these months, about two thousand blue whales swim in the waters off the central coast including in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Can you see whales off the coast of Los Angeles?

Winter & Spring Whale Watching Winter and spring months in Long Beach and Los Angeles are a perfect time to spot gray whales during their migration season. … November through March is also a great time to spot humpback whales, which can usually be spotted in clusters of ten.

Why do California gray whales migrate?

Gray whales migrate north each spring to feast and grow fat in the rich feeding waters of the Arctic. They migrate south each fall to mate and give birth in lagoons on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. In January, February and March, many people travel to the lagoons. …

Are there whales in Santa Barbara?

Late spring through early fall, the Santa Barbara Channel offers regular sightings of humpback whales and the largest mammal on earth, the colossal blue whale. You might also spot the shy minke whale, fin whale, Pacific white-sided dolphin, coastal bottlenose dolphin and rissos dolphin.

Is a California GREY whale a fish or a mammal?

Like all marine mammals, gray whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The western North Pacific stock or Distinct Population Segment (DPS) is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and depleted under the MMPA.

What time of day are whales most active in California?

The best overhead light is from 11 am – 3 pm, for beautiful blue waters. The calmest sea conditions tend to be before noon and towards sunset. The whales are active throughout the day and their behavior changes as groups of whales encounter each other.

Can you see whales from the shore in Monterey?

It’s possible to see whales from the shore at Monterey Bay. Especially, humpback whales are frequently spotted from the coast. Places for sightings are Asilomar State Beach, Point Sur Lighthouse, and near Highway 1. … Other Whales: You may also spot gray whales from land along the Monterey Bay shoreline.

Where do the whales migrate to?

The Great Migration Humpback whales travel thousands of kilometers along the east coast of Australia from early May to late November between their summer feeding grounds in antarctic waters to their winter breeding grounds up north.

Are there orcas in Malibu?

A pod of five to eight whales were swimming about a mile from the coast. Local whale watchers got to take dozens of photos of the playful animals. A pod of orca whales, also known as killer whales, was seen about a mile off the coast of Malibu by a group of whale watchers Sunday.

Can you see killer whales in San Diego?

Can You See Orcas in San Diego. Orcas (killer whales) can be seen off the coast of San Diego year-round. However, they are rare, and sightings are only reported a couple of times each year on whale watching trips.

What time of year do killer whales migrate?

Type A killer whales appear to be migratory, entering Antarctic waters during the austral summer. Type B (Antarctic killer whales) undertake rapid migrations from the Antarctic to subtropical waters off Uruguay and Brazil. These rapid travels may be over 5,800 miles (9,400 km) round trip.

Are there orcas in Monterey Bay?

Orcas are temporary inhabitants of Monterey Bay and migrate continuously along the coast of western North America. Orcas, also known as killer whales, are sighted in the sanctuary year-round with 2-5 unpredictable sightings each month.

Is whale watching better in San Francisco or Monterey?

We definitely recommend Monterey Bay. You can get out to the whales within a few miles within the bay, versus several hours to get out to the Farallones out of SF. It’s a much nicer ride.

Where are the humpback whales now?

In the northern hemisphere, humpback whales are found in the north Pacific, from South-East Alaska, Prince William Sound, and British Columbia and migrate seasonally to Hawaii, the Gulf of California, Mexico and Costa Rica.

Is it safe to swim with wild orcas?

Is it safe to swim or dive with Orcas? Yes, however, you have to be very cautious, because they are still wild animals and need attention all the time. Orcas owe their name “killer whale” to the early whalers Because they apparently attacked and killed all other animals, even the largest whales.

Where do orcas live in California?

These locations include Long Beach, Monterey Bay, and San Diego. Historically, these Cali coasts have been recorded as seeing a denser killer whale population, particularly during feeding times when their prey is also populous.

Where are the orcas on the East Coast?

4.1 Cape May Whale Watcher.
4.2 Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center.
4.3 Seastreak.
4.4 Spirit of Cape May.
4.5 Bill McKim’s Jersey Shore Whale Watch Tour.
4.6 Queen Mary.
4.7 Ocean Explorer.
4.8 Royal Miss Belmar.

Are gray whales migrating now?

Today, nearly 24,000 gray whales continue their annual migration along the coast of North America, giving humans a glimpse of these majestic creatures that live in the deep.

Are GREY whales friendly?

Gray whales are known to be very curious and inquisitive, giving them reputation of being the “friendly” whale. They often swim right up to boats and poke their heads vertically out of the water to get a better view of their surroundings in a behavior called spyhopping.

Why do humpback whales go to Hawaii?

The biggest reason for this migration is food, but there are many other factors at play such as water temperature, salinity and the presence of predators. In general, most food can be found in the polar waters, but this food also attracts large predators such as killer whales that can prey on young whales.