Whale Watching in Monterey: FAQs

Monterey Bay: Whale Watching Fact File

Gray whales, blue whales and humpback whales of Monterey Bay:

• It's far more likely that you’ll see humpback whales and gray whales if you visit during the months they are most populous.

• These whales travel through Monterey Bay in high numbers, so successful sightings are almost completely assured when whale watching -- although never guaranteed, as with any wildlife encounter.

• If you’re visiting during the months of June to October in search of blue whales, your chances are also very good, but while they visit in high numbers, they’re a bit harder to spot as they tend to feed further off shore in the deepest waters of Monterey

Killer whales of Monterey Bay:

• By contrast to these three whales, all of which come to Monterey Bay in high numbers and on known migratory schedules, an encounter with killer whales is much more to do with luck. 

• Killer whales in the area are transient. They don’t follow specific migratory patterns or feeding paths, but instead visit the bay whenever they feel like it.

• The only way to increase your chance of seeing killer whales is to visit during the highest occurrence of gray whales, as these apex predators are more likely to head to Monterey Bay to ambush gray whale calves.

Fin whales of Monterey Bay:

• Fin whales are more predictable than killer whales in Monterey Bay, but they are also very timid animals and have a much smaller population than gray whales, humpback whales, and blue whales.

• Because of this, fin whales tougher to spot, simply because there are fewer of them. 

• However, because they follow predictable routes, there is still a much higher chance of seeing a fin whale in Monterey Bay than most other whale watching sites in the world.