Humpback Season: Summer Whale Watching in Morro Bay
Humpback season is in full swing here on the Central Coast from May to November, which means summer whale watching in Morro Bay is epic! From friendly muggings to National Geographic-level feeding frenzies, we see it all on our trips!
We love humpbacks here at Morro Bay Whale Watching, and want to share some about these incredible marine mammals with you.
Three Humpback Whales in Morro Bay, California | Photo by Amy McKellar
Meet the Humpback
Characteristics of the Humpback
The humpback whales we see on our trips are quite the sight! These marine mammals typically measure between 40-60 feet in length and weigh up to 40 tons. They’re known for the distinctive hump just above their dorsal fin, as well as their massive pectoral fins and unique flukes that can be used to identify individual whales.
Humpbacks are baleen whales, which means that they feed by filtering seawater through large baleen plates in their mouths to trap krill, plankton, and small fish. Humpbacks can live up to 90 years, and females can give birth to around 10 calves in their lifetime.
Humpback Calf Approaches The Freedom in Morro Bay, California | Photo by Captain Dan
What Makes Humpbacks So Fun To Watch
The behaviors and personalities of humpback whales make them incredibly entertaining to watch. Humpbacks tend to be friendly, often approaching our boats to socialize, a behavior known as “mugging.”
Some of the other behaviors we have the pleasure of witnessing:
Breaching
Fluking
Lunge feeding
Pectoral slapping
Tail lobbing
You can read more about each of these behaviors on our blog.
Humpback Whale Breaching Near Morro Bay, California | Photo by Amy McKellar
Humpback Whale Migration
We are fortunate to have a long "humpback season” here in Morro Bay because of the species’ migration pattern. The humpback whales we see on the Central Coast of California spend the winter breeding in the warm waters of Mexico and Central America, and then spend most of the spring through fall feeding in the nutrient-dense waters off of California and Oregon.
We typically see humpbacks arrive to this area around March - with May truly kicking of the season - and then dwindle by the end of November or early December. That makes summer the heart of our humpback season, and a fantastic time to head out on a whale watching trip!
Humpback Flukes in Front of Morro Rock | Photo by Amy McKellar
Experience Humpback Whale Watching in Morro Bay
Thanks to conservation efforts, the world has seen humpback populations increase over the last few decades, and we’re grateful to see so many whales on our trips! If you’re up for an ocean adventure, now is the time to see these beautiful creatures in action!
Book your trip, or get yourself an Annual Whale Watching Pass for continued whale watching all year long. Either way, we can’t wait to share this experience with you!