Whale Watching

Sunshine, sea lions, and a little change of course made for a memorable day on the water last weekend. Strong winds and heavy ocean swells kept us from heading offshore, so we explored the waters near Mile Rock and Point Bonita, keeping an eye out for humpbacks along the way. Although we didn’t spot any whales this trip, a couple of harbor seals and a few harbor porpoises gave us plenty of reasons to keep our eyes on the water. On our way back into the Bay, we stopped near a

Sunshine, Sea Lions, and Whale Tails Beyond the Golden Gate Last Saturday brought another beautiful day on the water, with unusually warm weather, very little swell, and almost no wind. We headed slightly north toward the area where we had spotted whales the previous week, curious to see what we might find. The Bay was quiet on the wildlife front, but once we passed beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, things began to pick up. Harbor porpoises appeared, along with a few sea lions

Whales, Birds, and a Little Offshore Magic This morning, Captain Mike had a spot in mind. He took us about 11 miles offshore, leaving time to slow down and look once we arrived. On the way out, we spotted several harbor porpoises, a few brown pelicans, and more birds than we are used to seeing on a tour. As we neared our destination, the bird activity grew louder and busier. We sailed through a chorus that seemed to come mostly from cormorants, with a few higher notes from gr

Humpbacks All Around Us on Saturday’s Cruise Last Saturday’s Whales of the Bay cruise was one for the books. We headed outside the Golden Gate, hoping to find whales in the waters offshore. Along the way, we spotted plenty of harbor porpoises, a few harbor seals, and a sea lion. When we reached the green buoys, the water was quiet for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then we saw our first humpback. A few minutes later, spouts appeared in every direction. Guests and crew called out sig

It was a beautiful day to be out on the Bay, with clear skies, warm sunshine, and weather comfortable enough for shirtsleeves. Fortunately, the whales seemed to be enjoying it just as much as we were! Captain Mike took us directly toward Mussel Shoal, where whale activity had been reported the previous day. As we approached the area, a few guests spotted what appeared to be a distant spout. Within minutes, the possibility became a reality when a good-sized humpback whale brea

Our latest whale-watching cruise delivered a truly memorable encounter: five humpback whales surfacing in the same area! Seeing so many whales appear in quick succession was an incredible sight and well worth the journey. We traveled farther than usual to find them, which meant our time with the whales was limited. Still, the excitement on board—and the smiles as we returned to port—made it clear that the experience was a highlight for everyone. Along the way, we also spotted

While we didn’t spot any whales on this trip, it was still a gorgeous day out on the Bay. We enjoyed full sunshine and encountered plenty of other marine life, including harbor porpoises, harbor seals, and sea lions. We also spotted some of our familiar pelagic seabirds, including common murres and terns. Recent reports of orcas hunting porpoises about 12 miles offshore have us especially excited about what we might encounter on a future trip. Every cruise is different, and w

Today brought gorgeous conditions on the Bay, with calm waters and plenty of sunshine. We headed toward the open water in search of whales, spotting harbor porpoises and sea lions along the way. The excitement began when two thresher sharks suddenly leapt from the water just feet from the bow! As we approached an area where salmon fishermen had gathered, we spotted a spout a few hundred yards away. We moved in for a closer look and watched as a humpback slapped its tail fluke

We had an incredible trip this past Saturday. The morning began with partly cloudy skies as Captain Mike took us straight through the Golden Gate and toward the open water. Along the way, we spotted numerous harbor porpoises zipping through the water beside us, along with several charismatic sea lions. As the fog began to roll in, we worried that the reduced visibility might make spotting whales difficult. Captain Mike continued toward an area where dozens of fishing boats ha

Last Saturday brought another incredible day on the water. We headed west through the Golden Gate to begin our search for humpback whales. Along the way, we encountered an abundance of harbor porpoises, along with a few harbor seals and sea lions. Once we reached the green buoys we had visited the previous weekend, everyone began scanning the horizon. The only recent whale reports placed them much farther offshore near the Farallon Islands, but it wasn’t long before we spotte

The whales are still here! This past Saturday’s Whales of the Bay cruise delivered another exciting day on the water. We headed beyond the Golden Gate in search of humpback whales just offshore. Along the way, we encountered plenty of harbor porpoises and sea lions, including many resting on buoys. With no whale reports from other mariners, our naturalist and crew relied on sharp eyes and a little patience. Just as we reached the farthest point of our journey and prepared to

Saturday’s Whales of the Bay cruise delivered beautiful weather and an unforgettable wildlife encounter just beyond the Golden Gate Bridge. About a mile outside the Gate, we spotted one, possibly two, humpback whales. Guests enjoyed close views for nearly half of the tour, but the highlight came when one whale surfaced less than 20 feet from ENHYDRA. It was a breathtaking moment that had everyone onboard buzzing with excitement. The humpbacks weren’t our only wildlife sightin

While the whales kept us guessing this time, we enjoyed plenty of other wildlife, including harbor porpoises, dolphins, cormorants, pelicans, pinnipeds, and even a few brave human mammals swimming in the Bay. Captain Mike made a special stop by Pier 39 on the way home, where the famous sea lions were relaxing in the sun. It was his first cruise of the year without a whale sighting, ending quite an impressive streak. The whales may have won this round, but Captain Mike will be

After coming up empty on whale sightings the week before, the whales made a welcome return. With gray whale season appearing to have wrapped up, we skipped our usual stop inside the bay and headed straight for the Golden Gate in search of humpback whales. The journey out was full of wildlife. Harbor porpoises were everywhere, popping up alongside the boat throughout the trip. We also spotted a few harbor seals and several California sea lions enjoying the morning. As we cruis

Not every whale watching trip includes a whale, and that's part of what makes wildlife encounters so special. Our Fourth of July Whales of the Bay cruise took us on a beautiful journey across San Francisco Bay and beyond the Golden Gate in search of humpback whales. Captain Evan began the morning with scenic views of Alcatraz and Angel Island before making our way to "cetacean station," where we've had recent whale sightings. After spending time scanning the horizon, we conti

Another Saturday, another incredible morning on the water. This week's Whales of the Bay cruise delivered an unforgettable surprise with sightings of four humpback whales just outside the Golden Gate. We began the morning at what Captain Mike calls "cetacean station," where we've been spotting gray whales over the past month. While the gray whales didn't make an appearance this time, Captain Mike decided it was the perfect day to head toward Mile Rock, where humpback whales h

Sometimes the wildlife comes to us, and this past Saturday was one of those days. Just 5 to 10 minutes after departing Fisherman's Wharf, a gray whale was spotted just north of Alcatraz. We quickly made our way over and were rewarded with an incredible encounter. The whale was large, active, and seemed content to spend time in the area. For the next 30 to 40 minutes, guests enjoyed repeated close views as it surfaced around the boat. The highlight of the encounter came when t

This past Saturday's Whales of the Bay Cruise delivered sunshine, stunning scenery, and an unforgettable lineup of San Francisco Bay marine wildlife. The highlight of the day was three separate gray whale sightings — with some coming remarkably close to the vessel. At one point, we found ourselves surrounded on both sides by a pod of harbor porpoises, one of those magical moments that reminds you just how alive the Bay truly is. A curious sea lion even joined us for part of t

This recent Saturday was another fun filled Whales of the Bay cruise. With gorgeous weather and two gray whale sightings. In between Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge, we spent a good amount of time marveling at the two friends who came up to say hi. With our naturalist, Ben, estimating that the second of the two whales was between 40-50 feet long. There were also plenty of sea lions feeding nearby the whales, showing a great peek at how these creatures interact with one an

Naturalist, Casey reports that they had a fantastic day out on the Bay with wildlife sightings from start to finish. Not long after leaving the dock, Captain Mike headed for his favorite spot, where they were quickly greeted by a large solitary gray whale. Later, after passing under the Golden Gate Bridge and heading toward the Pacific, we spotted another blow in the distance. As we got closer, we discovered it was a humpback whale. It appeared to be focused on feeding, calml