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OCTOBER 2025 MONTEREY BAY WHALE WATCH MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS

MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS IN THE MONTEREY BAY

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

October 2025 
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Note — This list 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 all whale watching trips, are not included in the 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.

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   Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project
Date # Type of Animal(s)
10/31 1:30 p.m. 17 Humpback whales (kelping)
10/31 9 a.m. 27 Humpback whales
50 Risso’s dolphin
20 Pacific white-sided dolphin
10/30 9 a.m. 13 Humpback whales (Checkmarks and Chex Mix)
10/29 1:30 p.m. 21 Humpback whales (lunge feeding)
10/29 9 a.m. 21 Humpback whales
40 Risso’s dolphin
10/28 1:30 p.m. 9 Humpback whales
6 Bottlenose dolphin
10/28 9 a.m. 9 Humpback whales
12 Risso’s dolphin
10/27 9 a.m. 7 Humpback whales (friendly!, Little Dimple and Mister Magic pec slapping and tail lobbing)
10/26 2:30 p.m. 16 Humpback whales (breach)
10/26 10 a.m. 19 Humpback whales (chronic breaching)
200 Risso’s dolphin
30 Northern right whale dolphin
5 5 Pacific white-sided dolphin
2 Harbor porpoise
10/26 9 a.m. 17 Humpback whales
10/25 1:30 p.m. 7 Humpback whales
10/25 10 a.m. 15 Humpback whales
150 Risso’s dolphin
5 Pacific white-sided dolphin
25 Northern right whale dolphin
1 Black-footed albatross
10/25 9 a.m. 12 Humpback whales
10/25 12 hour all day 15 Humpback whales (friendly)
1 Minke whale
5 Bottlenose dolphin (bow-riding)
10/24 2:30 p.m. 8 Humpback whales
10 Risso’s dolphin
10/24 10 a.m. 20 Humpback whales
10/24 9 a.m. 5 Humpback whales
500 Risso’s dolphin
200 Pacific white-sided dolphin
25 Northern right whale dolphin
10/23 1:30 p.m. 15 Humpback whales
10/23 9 a.m. 21 Humpback whales
10/22 1:30 p.m. 7 Humpback whales
10/22 9 a.m. 10 Humpback whales
10/21 1:30 p.m. 8 Humpback whales (Aurora tail lobbing)
10/21 9 a.m. 20 Humpback whales (Angel Wing & Ripcurl)
70 Risso’s dolphin
10/20 1:30 p.m. 11 Humpback whales (breaching)
10/20 9 a.m. 18 Humpback whales (pec slapping)
1 Blue shark
10/19 2:30 p.m. 3 Humpback whales
50 Risso’s dolphin
20 Pacific white-sided dolphin
10/19 1:30 p.m. 10 Humpback whales (chronic breaching)
10/19 10 a.m. 3 Orcas (CA51As and Jimmy)
12 Humpback whales
10/19 9 a.m. 3 Orcas (CA51As and Jimmy)
6 Humpback whales
10/18 2:30 p.m. 7 Orcas (CA51As and CA50B “Jimmy”)
10/18 1:30 p.m. 4 Orcas (CA51As)
13 Humpback whales
10/18 10 a.m. 7 Orcas (CA51As and CA50B “Jimmy”)
15 Humpback whales
10/18 9 a.m. 7 Orcas (CA51As and CA50B “Jimmy”)
10/18 8 Hour All Day 7 Orcas (CA51As and CA50B “Jimmy”)
20 Humpback whales
1 Mola mola
10/17 1:30 p.m. 8 Humpback whales
20 Risso’s dolphin
10/17 10 a.m. 4 Orca
11 Humpback whales
10/17 9 a.m. 4 Orca
15 Humpback whales
10/16 1:30 p.m. 17 Humpback whales (breaching, tail lobbing)
10/16 9 a.m. 19 Humpback whales
10/15 9 a.m. 15 Humpback whales (including calf Chex Mix who is now free from the fishing gear entanglement!!!)
10/14 9 a.m. 15 Humpback whales
10/13 9 a.m. 14 Humpback whales
30 Risso’s dolphin
4 Northern right whale dolphin
10/12 10 a.m. 18 Humpback whales (breaching, tail lobbing, pec slapping)
8 Bottlenose dolphin
10/12 9 a.m. 12 Humpback whales (breaching)
10/11 1:30 p.m. 8 Humpback whales
10/11 10 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
6 Humpback whales
20 Risso’s dolphin
10/11 9 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
10 Humpback whales
10/9 1:30 p.m. 13 Humpback whales
10/10 9 a.m. 4 Orcas
15 Humpback whales
10/10 9 a.m. 4 Orcas
8 Humpback whales
10/9 1:30 p.m. 17 Humpback whales
12 Harbor porpoise
10/9 9 a.m. 15 Humpback whales
100 Risso’s dolphin
20 Pacific white-sided dolphin
500 Short-beaked common dolphin
10/9 8 Hour All Day 23 Humpback whales
10 Pacific white-sided dolphin
10/8 1:30 p.m. 15 Humpback whales
10/8 9 a.m. 15 Humpback whales
10/7 2 p.m. 11 Humpback whales
10/7 9 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
2 Humpback whales
60 Risso’s dolphin
10/6 1:30 p.m. 10 Humpback whales
10/6 9 a.m. 8 Humpback whales
200 Risso’s dolphin
30 Pacific white-sided dolphin
10 Northern right whale dolphin
10/6 8 Hour All Day 9 Humpback whales
150 Risso’s dolphin
40 Pacific white-sided dolphin
15 Northern right whale dolphin
10/5 2:30 p.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
4 Humpback whales
6 Bottlenose dolphin
10/5 1:30 p.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
15 Humpback whales
10/5 10 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
10/5 9 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
13 Humpback whales
10/4 1:30 p.m. 6 Humpback whales
10/4 10 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
6 Humpback whales
100 Risso’s dolphin
10/4 9 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
8 Humpback whales
100 Risso’s dolphin
10/4 8 Hour All Day 6 Orcas (CA51As)
21 Humpback whales
10/3 9 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
6 Humpback whales
10/2 1:30 p.m. 4 Orcas
16 Humpback whales
10/2 9 a.m. 4 Orcas
22 Humpback whales
10/1 1:30 p.m. 6 Humpback whales
10/1 9 a.m. 1 Orca (CA50B Jimmy)
11 Humpback whales
Photos © 2025 Daniel Bianchetta and Morgan Quimby

 

Whale's head emerging from water, covered in seaweed, with water splashing.

Humpback whale spy hopping in a big kelp paddy as a sort of whale spa treatment (October 31st)

 

Whale tail with seaweed in water, captioned 'Monterey Bay Whale Watch'.

Humpback whale swishing its tail through kelp as a sort of whale spa treatment (October 31st)

 

Two whales breaching in the ocean near a distant shoreline under a clear blue sky.

Humpback whale mom “Little Dimple” teaching her calf “Mister Magic” to tail slap (October 27, 2025)

 

Two whale tails emerging from the ocean waves with hills in the background.

Humpback whale mom “Little Dimple” teaching her calf “Mister Magic” to tail slap (October 27, 2025)

 

Whale tail splash in ocean, surrounded by flying seabirds.

Humpback whale tail lobbing on a cloudy morning (October 21, 2025)

 

Humpback whale breaching in ocean near coastline under clear blue sky.

Big Humpback whale breach (October 20, 2025)

 

Humpback whale breaching in ocean near coastline, with water spray and distant land visible.

Humpback whale chin slap (October 20, 2025)

 

Humpback whale fin above water surface in the ocean on a clear day.

Humpback whale pec slapping with eye wide open staring at the boat (October 19, 2025)

 

Two whales breaching in the ocean near a sandy shore with distant hills and trees.

Humpback whale double breach! (October 19, 2025)

 

A whale's tail emerges from the water in a serene ocean setting.

Male orca CA50B “Jimmy” fluke slapping (October 19, 2025)

 

Orca breaching water surface with ocean background.

Orca calf breaching backwards (October 17, 2025)

 

Breaching whale in ocean with birds flying above against a mountainous shoreline background.

Humpback whale displaying a big backwards breach (October 16, 2025)

 

A humpback whale breaches with a bird flying above its mouth in a calm ocean setting.

Humpback whale with it’s mouth open while lunge feeding at the surface (October 14, 2025)

 

Ocean sunfish partially submerged in clear blue water.

Giant beautifully patterned Mola mola (October 12, 2025)

 

Humpback whale breaching out of the ocean with water splashing around.

Spinning Humpback whale breach on a beautiful calm day (October 12, 2025)

 

Orca surfacing in blue ocean, showing its distinctive black and white markings.

Orca calf eating a sea lion carcass that her mother is holding in the water below her (October 11, 2025)

 

A cormorant with blue eyes floats on calm blue water, creating a reflection.

Brandt’s cormorant preening in the calm harbor (October 11, 2025)

 

Orca surfacing with part of its head above water, showing some red stains.

Orca calf with a piece of sea lion carcass in her mouth (October 11, 2025)

 

Humpback whale breaching in ocean near sandy shore and trees in background.

“Ventana” the Humpback whale displaying a high chin slap breach (October 9, 2025)

 

Large group of sea lions swimming with a whale near the surface in a bay.

Humpback whale feeding alongside a massive raft of sea lions (October 9, 2025)

 

Orca swimming in the ocean with dorsal fin visible above water surface.

Orca calf spy-hopping next to her mother (October 7, 2025)

 

A Risso's dolphin leaping out of the ocean, showing a scarred body against a clear blue sky.

Risso’s dolphin breaching backwards (October 7, 2025)

 

A dolphin swimming in blue ocean water, partially submerged and creating ripples.

Northern right whale dolphin surfacing close to the boat while bow riding (October 6, 2025)

 

Dolphin leaping out of the ocean near a sandy beach with cliffs and people sitting on the shore.

Bottlenose dolphin getting some major air close to shore (October 5, 2025)

 

Orca breaching water with splash.

Orca calf breaching through afternoon swell (October 5, 2025)

 

Orca leaping vertically from the water in a blue ocean.

Orca matriarch CA51A Aurora breaching towards the boat (October 5, 2025)

 

Orca breaching water surface with head and dorsal fin visible against the blue ocean background.

Orca matriarch CA51A Aurora breaching towards the boat (October 5, 2025)

 

Orca swimming with head above ocean surface, water splashing around.

Orca matriarch CA51A Aurora breaching towards the boat (October 5, 2025)

 

Whales surfacing in ocean with birds flying above, water spray visible.

Humpback whales intervening on an orca hunt (October 5, 2025)

 

Orca swimming in blue ocean, partially above water with visible dorsal fin.

Celebratory orca belly flop breach after a successful sea lion hunt (October 5, 2025)

 

Close-up of a whale's tail fin above the ocean surface.

Orca calf fluke waving while celebrating a sea lion hunt (October 5, 2025)

 

A dolphin leaping out of the ocean near a sandy beach with hills in the background.

Amazing high leap from a Bottlenose dolphin (October 5, 2025)

 

Two orcas swimming near the ocean surface under a clear sky.

Female orca pod members surfacing in beautiful sea conditions (October 4, 2025)

 

Whale tail emerging from water splash against mountain backdrop.

Powerful tail lob in beautiful morning light from mother Humpback Little Dimple (October 4, 2025)

 

A whale's tail splashes water as it dives in the ocean.

Powerful tail lob in beautiful morning light from mother Humpback Little Dimple (October 4, 2025)

 

Orca breaching ocean surface with a bird flying nearby.

Female killer whale launching from the swell on a windy day (October 3, 2025)

 

Orca breaching in ocean near shore, cloudy sky and hills in background.

Killer whale calf breaches on its side with the beach of Marina in the background (October 2, 2025)

 

A whale breaching water, surrounded by seabirds, under a cloudy sky in the ocean.

Massive Humpback whale breaching on a cloudy moody day (October 2, 2025)

 

Copyright © 2025 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.