Saturday, August 15, 2026

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 had gathered in search of salmon. We even watched and applauded as nearby fishermen proudly held up their catch for our guests to see.

Where there is food, humpback whales are often close behind.

Captain Mike spotted our first whale in the distance. Soon, another appeared off the stern on the starboard side. Then, a juvenile surfaced just 15 to 20 feet from our bow and released a powerful spout. It was an incredible moment, and guests hurried from one side of the boat to the other as more whales appeared around us.

By the time we headed back to San Francisco, we estimated that we had encountered three to five humpback whales. It was difficult to identify each individual because only one showed its fluke, but the number of sightings made for an unforgettable morning on the water.

There was plenty to see for the birders onboard as well, including countless common murres, terns, and other pelagic seabirds. Despite the fog, it turned out to be another amazing wildlife adventure beyond the Golden Gate.