I'm used to seeing Gray Whales Spout along the California coast about this time of year but then my wife said, "Are these Humpback whales?" I didn't think Humpbacks came by California only Hawaiian Islands where I have seen them many times in the past. One time we even rented our own tour boat from Lahaina before it burned down and went out to see a mother Humpback and her cub out in the ocean off of Lahaina then.
However, along the California coast from December through February you always can see Gray whales going south to the Gulf of California in Mexico where they mate there. I have watched them spout this time of year since I first came to the Northern California coast around 1980. So, even though I have lived in both Mt. Shasta and Hawaii since then some I first saw the Gray Whales spouting here along the San Francisco Coastal area first around 1980 when I was 32 years old.
begin quotes:
- Best Time to View: May through November is ideal for Northern California, while they are common in Southern California during the summer.
- Locations: Prime spots include Monterey Bay, Santa Barbara Channel (near Ventura), and the Gulf of the Farallones.
- Behavior: They are known for "lunge feeding" on anchovies, sardines, and krill. They are highly acrobatic, often breaching (leaping out of the water) and diving.
- Migration: They migrate from Mexico to California to feed, with some individuals returning annually.
- Population Status: A population of roughly 800 individuals is estimated to feed off the California coast.
- Boat Tours: Whale watching boats in areas like Monterey, Moss Landing, and Ventura frequently report sightings.
- Coastal Views: They can sometimes be seen from shore or from the Monterey Bay Aquarium decks.
- Observation: They are often found in groups, especially when feeding.
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