Latest Sightings Monterey Bay Whale Watch Marine Mammal List

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

Since January 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.

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Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project
Date	#	Type of Animal(s)
1/27 9 a.m.	22	Gray whales
	6	Risso’s dolphin

1/26 9 a.m.	15	Gray whales

1/25 10 a.m.	15	Gray whales
	2	Humpback whales

1/25 9 a.m.	15	Gray whales
	1	Humpback whales (breach)

1/23 1:30 p.m.	22	Gray whales
	150	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	100	Northern right whale dolphin

1/23 9 a.m.	12	Gray whales
	80o	Risso’s dolphin (nursery pod)
	200	Pacific white-sided dolphins

1/21 9 a.m.	12	Gray whales (breaching!)

1/20 10 a.m.	26	Gray whales (breaching!)

1/20 9 a.m.	9	Gray whales

1/19 1:30 p.m.	15	Gray whales
	150	Risso’s dolphin
	1	Humpback whale

1/19 10 a.m.	14	Gray whales
	16	Humpback whales (breach)
	4,000	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	2,000	Northern right whale dolphin

1/19 9 a.m.	15	Gray whales
	8	Humpback whales
	2,000	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	50	Northern right whale dolphin
	50	Risso’s dolphin

1/18 2:30 p.m.	20	Gray whales (double breach!!)

1/18 1:30 p.m.	12	Gray whales

1/18 10 a.m.	22	Gray whales
	1,000	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	500	Northern right whale dolphin
	1	Fin whale

1/18 9 a.m.	20	Gray whales
	10	Humpback whales
	600	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	500	Northern right whale dolphin

1/17 1:30 p.m.	14	Gray whales
	50	Pacific white-sided dolphin

1/17 10 a.m.	22	Gray whales (breach!)
	840	Pacific white-sided dolphin
	270	Northern right whale dolphin
	20	Risso’s dolphin

1/17 9 a.m.	12	Gray whales
	20	Risso’s dolphin

1/16 1:30 p.m.	20	Gray whales
	200	Northern right whale dolphin
	250	Pacific white-sided dolphin

1/16 9 a.m.	14	Gray whales
	30	Risso’s dolphin (nursery pod)
	1	Humpback whale

1/14 9 a.m.	23	Gray whales
	100	Risso’s dolphin
	1	Humpback whale

1/13 9 a.m.	15	Gray whales

1/12 9 a.m.	8	Gray whales

1/11 1:30 p.m.	20	Gray whales

1/11 9 a.m.	40	Gray whales

1/10 1:30 p.m.	5	Gray whales
	2	Humpback whales

1/10 10 a.m.	14	Gray whales
	60	Risso’s dolphin
	6	Mola mola

1/10 9 a.m.	20	Gray whales
	25	Risso’s dolphin
	1	Mola mola

1/09 1:30 p.m.	18	Gray whales

1/09 9 a.m.	14	Gray whales
	40	Risso’s dolphin

1/06 1:30 p.m.	4	Orca (CA39As)

1/06 9 a.m.	6	Gray whales
	150	Risso’s dolphin

1/04 10 a.m.	4	Humpback whales (breach)

1/03 10 a.m.	3	Humpback whales
	3	Mola mola

1/03 9 a.m.	5	Humpback whales

Two dolphins leaping out of the water in a blue ocean under sunlight.

Northern right whale dolphin and Pacific white-sided dolphin porpoising in sync (January 19, 2026)

Dolphins swimming and leaping in the ocean with splashes of water.

Northern right whale dolphin and Pacific white-sided dolphin porpoising together (January 19, 2026)

Orca breaching vertically from the ocean with splashes, under a clear sky.

Northern right whale dolphin displaying an uncommonly seen behavior – a tail walk! (January 18, 2026)

Dolphin leaping out of the water, with waves splashing, under a clear blue sky.

Pacific white-sided dolphins porpoising alongside the bow of the boat (January 18, 2026)

A dolphin swims underwater with sunlight sparkling on the surface.

Curious Pacific white-sided dolphin checks out the boat (January 18, 2026)

A beaked whale swimming underwater in clear blue sea.

Bow-riding Northern right whale dolphin (January 18, 2026)

A dolphin leaping out of the water with splashes around in a blue ocean.

Leaping Northern right whale dolphin showing off it’s unique coloration pattern (January 18, 2026)

Humpback whale breaching water, with a seabird flying above and dorsal fin visible in foreground.

Humpback whale interacting with Pacific white-sided dolphin (January 18, 2026)

Small black and white bird swimming on calm blue water.

Scripp’s murrelet – an uncommon sight! (January 18, 2026)

Two dolphins swimming close together in blue ocean water.

Young Risso’s dolphin calf with fetal folds surfacing near it’s mother (January 16, 2026)

Dolphin leaping out of the water with splash in the ocean.

Northern right whale dolphin porpoising (January 16, 2026)

A dolphin leaping out of the ocean, with water splashing around.

Pacific white-sided dolphin leaping backwards (January 16, 2026)

Duck with red bill swimming in calm water with droplets.

Common merganser surfacing in the harbor (January 13, 2026)

Close-up of a whale's tail above ocean waves with blue sky.

Gray whale flukes rising above the swell as it takes a dive (January 14, 2026)

Humpback whale spouting water with flippers visible in the ocean under a clear sky.

Pair of Gray whales surfacing and diving (January 15, 2026)

White dolphin swimming near the surface with forested coastline in the background.

Risso’s dolphin pod surfacing with some very young calves (January 14, 2026)

Whale tail emerging from ocean waves with splashes around it.

Gray whale flukes as they dive (January 10, 2026)

Whale tail above water with mountains and blue sky in the background.

Humpback whale fluking up with the beautiful Big Sur coast in the background (January 10, 2026)

Black and white seabird swimming on the ocean surface with gentle waves.

Uncommon sighting of an Ancient murrelet

Sea otter floating in water, holding and eating a purple sea urchin with paws.

Southern sea otter eating a sea urchin

Pod of dolphins swimming in the ocean with a hilly coastline in the background.

Pod of Risso’s dolphin (January 10, 2026)

Orcas swimming in the ocean with distant hills and coastal trees in the background.

Male orca CA39A2 surfacing with the beautiful coast in the background (January 6, 2026)

Whale fin and spout visible in ocean with seagull flying, shoreline houses, and trees in background.

Male orca CA39A2 surfacing with Point Pinos lighthouse in the background (January 6, 2026)

Orcas swimming near a coastal town with birds flying overhead.

CA39As orca pod traveling along the coast of Pacific Grove (January 6, 2026)

Whale blowing water in ocean under cloudy sky.

Member of the CA39As orca pod surfacing (January 6, 2026)

Orca dorsal fin in ocean, with distant shoreline and bird flying overhead.

CA39As orca pod traveling along the coast of Asilomar beach (January 6, 2026)

Humpback whale tail above ocean surface with barnacles visible.

Beautiful speckled flukes of a diving Humpback whale (January 3, 2026)

A whale surfacing with five birds flying above the ocean on a clear day.

Humpback whale fluking up while Brandt’s cormorants fly over (January 3, 2026)

Seaside view with a rainbow and bird over buildings in Monterey Bay.

Pelican flying by a beautiful rainbow over Cannery Row (January 3, 2026)

LATEST SIGHTINGS

MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS IN THE MONTEREY BAY