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Gray Whale

Eschrichtius robustus

Gray whales hug the kelp line close enough to see barnacled skin from the Newport pier. They make a 10,000-mile one-way journey between Alaska feeding grounds and Baja lagoon breeding sites — the longest migration of any mammal — rolling through SoCal coast December through April.

Stats

At a glance

LENGTH
40–49 ft
WEIGHT
30–40 tons
LIFESPAN
55–70 yrs
DIET
Amphipods (bottom-feeder)
RARITY
Common in season
SEASON
December–April migrating to Baja
How to ID

What to look for

Look for a heart-shaped blow and mottled gray skin.
BEHAVIORS TO WATCH FOR
Spy-hoppingHeart-shaped blowMother-calf pairsFriendly approaches
When

Best months to see

JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Archive

Last 30 days

Total seen
0
Days active
0/30
Last seen
Not seen
DAILY SIGHTING COUNT HOVER A BAR
TODAY
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Where to go (operators post live sighting data)

Newport & Long Beach operators share daily trip counts — you can see what was spotted before you book. Other operators don't publish daily reports.

NW
Newport Whales
3,200 common dolphins
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DL
Davey's Locker
3,200 common dolphins
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HB
Harbor Breeze
500 common dolphins · 4 humpback whales · 2 fin whales
Book Now
DW
Dana Wharf
DANA POINT · Doesn't publish daily trip reports
Visit →
SD
San Diego Whale Watch
SAN DIEGO · Doesn't publish daily trip reports
Visit →
P
Paul Grogan
Covers SoCal whale watching, ocean conditions, and the best departure ports on the Southern California coast.