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Whale Watching California Style

humpback whale fluke


Looking for a great place to go whale watching? California offers numerous opportunities for you to see whales, both from shore and at sea. And you'll find whales of one sort or another year round.

Add in California's gorgeous coastal scenery and the abundance of other types of wildlife, and you've got a winning combination.



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Whale Watching California
Gray Whales

By far the most common whale you'll see is the gray whale, which migrates every fall from its summer feeding grounds off the coast of Alaska to its breeding grounds in the lagoons of Baja California.

Gray whales are not migrating as far north or as far south as they once did. They don't need to go so far to find food. In fact, they may even become "resident" to areas where the waters are particularly nutrient rich. And the good news is that the population of gray whales has been increasing steadily and is now at about 23,000.

The southern migration starts in November and lasts until about February. The northern migration starts in February and lasts through April. This is the best time to see the whales, since mothers (cows) with calves tend to hug the coast - keeping their calves coast-side, presumably to protect them from killer whales (Orcas).

The gray whale is a medium sized whale, measuring 45 feet long and weighing 50 tons at maturity. You'll be able to spot it easily from shore with its V shaped blow, up to 15 feet high. In fact, since gray whales often travel in large groups, you may see a line of blow plumes - like some gigantic water fountain.

However, gray whales are not the only ones you can see, not by any means.

Gray Whale Pictures
More Gray Whale Pictures


Whale Watching California
Blue Whales

Blue whales are huge! They're the largest animal on earth at 70 to 90 feet long and weighing over 100 tons. They're fast, strong swimmers and big eaters, devouring around 4 tons of krill a day. Blue whales are an endangered species. There are only about 10,000 worldwide with 2,200 of those off the California coast.

The best places to spot blue whales are off the coast of Big Sur and Monterey and around the Channel Islands near Santa Barbara.

Blue Whale Pictures
More Blue Whale Pictures

Whale Watching California
Humpback Whales

Humpback whales reach a length of 40 to 50 feet. The population of humpback whales along the California coast is about 800. They're very animated whales and can often be seen leaping out of the water, slapping the water with their fins and flukes, and even swimming on their backs with both fins in the air. In short, they're fun to watch.

Humpback whales spend most of the year close to shore or around islands, and since they're also somewhat slow swimmers who rest frequently, your chances of seeing them are pretty good.

Humpback Whale Pictures
More Humpback Whale Pictures

Whale Watching California
More Whales and Others

You may be able to see several other species of whales along the California coast, including the black and white Orcas (killer whales), Minke whales, Fin whales and others. In addition, you may see dolphins and porpoises, and (of course) the ubiquitous seals and sea lions. If you fail to find seals along the California coast, you're just not looking!

Whale Watching California
Fast Facts

Gray Whales

  • Migrate from November through May
  • Travel in large groups
  • Blow is up to 14 feet high and V shaped
  • Raise their flukes (tails) before diving
  • Medium sized whales - 45 feet long weighing 50 tons

Blue Whales

  • Migrate from July through October
  • Travel in pairs, sometimes singly or in small groups
  • Blow is a single stream rising up to 30 feet high
  • Raise their flukes before diving
  • Huge animals measuring 70 - 90 feet long weighing over 100 tons
  • Makes very loud deep rumbling sounds that travel long distances through water

Humpback Whales

  • Migrate from November through March
  • Travel in groups of 7-10
  • Blow is up to 10 feet in a balloon shaped pattern.
  • Raise their flukes when diving
  • Reach a length of 40 - 50 feet, weighing 25 - 40 tons
  • Easily identified by its long pectoral fins
  • Very acrobatic
  • "Sing" long complex "songs," for hours at a time

Photo of humpback whale fluke courtesy of OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP); National Marine Mammal Lab. Photographer: J. Waite

More California Whale Watching Information

Where to Go Whale Watching on Land
Where to Find a California Whale Watching Tour
California Whale Watching Festivals

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