Saturday, July 11, 2026

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 cruised along the Marin Headlands and Point Bonita, Naturalist Ben shared fascinating facts about the local marine life, the rugged coastline, and the history of these iconic landmarks while everyone kept a close watch on the water. We explored the area for a while, but with time ticking by and no reports of humpbacks within reach, it looked like we might have another whale-less day.

On the way back, Captain Mike made one last stop at Mile Rock, where we'd had success on a previous trip. It turned out to be exactly the right call.

Just offshore, two humpback whales appeared, surfacing again and again as they made their way through the water. We spent about 20 incredible minutes watching them before heading back to Fisherman's Wharf with smiles all around.

Some days on the water remind us that a little patience can go a long way. This was definitely one of those days.