There are lots of places to go whale watching in California, but so far the best place I’ve been whale watching is in Newport Beach. If you’re thinking about going whale watching, I highly recommend this experience with Davey’s Locker as it is spectacular to experience these magnificent creatures up close and in the wild!
Best Time to Go Whale Watching in Newport Beach
Whale watching happens in California all year round because we’re blessed with different seasons that bring different whales. The most common types of whales to see are gray whales and blue whales. Both come fairly close to the shores which makes them easier to find on whale watching trips.
Gray whales migrate along the coast between December and April, and they are easy to follow once you catch sight of them because they move at a steady pace up and down the coast.
Blue whales are around usually starting in April until October and the summer months are best to see them. They come to California to feed on krill, so the larger the amount of krill the higher your chances are of seeing these fascinating creatures.
There is also the possibility at different times of year of seeing other whales, such as Humpback whales, Minke whales, or even Orcas. California really is a great place to go whale watching!
So when is the best time to go whale watching in Newport Beach? That depends on what you want to see…because if you want to see blue whales you shouldn’t usually go in February and if you want to see gray whales you shouldn’t go in October. Anytime of year you go can be spectacular! I’ve had great luck going in the spring, though.
Davey’s Locker Whale Watching: What Will You See?
Whale watching can be hit or miss and you never really know for sure what you will see, but to give you an idea of what you might see I want to share with you what I saw when I went out with Davey’s Locker in March 2019. The crew told us it was a great day for sightings and one of the best they’d had all season!
1. Dolphins
No matter what time of year you go whale watching, you’re nearly guaranteed to get a sighting of a pod of dolphins. These sociable creatures love darting through the water and sometimes even circling and surfing right past the boat!
We saw a lot of common dolphins on our trip and they came up right next to the boat. It was spectacular! But if you’re lucky, you might get to see other types of dolphins on your whale watching cruise too.
2. Gray Whales
Gray Whales (aka the California gray whale) are baleen whales that migrate between feeding and breeding areas. They usually migrate from north to south passing through California in December/January, and then from south to north again with their calves in March/April.
If you go whale watching during one of these times, like I did, you will likely see some gray whales on your cruise. We saw five gray whales the day I went whale watching with Davey’s Locker!
The whales like to come to the surface for air several times in a row when they make short dives and then they’ll go deep under the water for several minutes before they resurface. But because they are migrating in only one direction, they are easy to track in the boat.
3. Blue Whales
Blue Whales are baleen whales and the largest known animal in existence. We were thrilled to spot one (the first one of the season!) on our whale watching trip.
These often come to California to feed during the warmer months anywhere from April to December. Because they’re feeding instead of migrating, their paths can be erratic and they might zigzag back and forth.
Our blue whale was zigzagging quite a bit, but the pilot of our boat was amazing and getting us nearby as soon as it resurfaced. Everybody was hanging over the side of the boat in awe each time it swam to the surface!
4. Whale Tails
If you get to see any whales on your cruise, hopefully you’ll also get to see them flip their tails above the water. This is my favorite part!
We were lucky to get to see a lot of the gray whales displaying this behavior as they dived, although the blue whale didn’t seem to be diving in this manner so we didn’t get to see its tail. I don’t know why it’s so exciting to see their tales, but I can assure you that it definitely is!
5. California Sea Lions
Some local Sea Lions love to hang out on a specific buoy every day, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll get to see a few of these adorable animals on your way back in from whale watching. They love to sleep all cuddled up in the sun like a bunch of house cats! The pilot slows down to allow you to watch them for a minute as they snuggle up and wiggle around on their buoy. It’s super cute to see!
Newport Beach Whale Watching Tips
While anytime of year is a possibility to see whales, it’s always a good idea to check the whale sightings before you go. Many companies, including Davey’s Locker, publish their sightings on their websites so you can get an idea of what is happening out on the water. If you go whale watching during a time when they haven’t been seeing many whales, you are less likely to see anything yourself.
Be sure to show up early for your whale watching cruise as you’ll need to find parking on the street or in one of the nearby lots. If you go whale watching early in the morning, you may even be able to find a free spot to park instead of having to pay.
Of course, you will also want to bring a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses with you as it’s usually quite sunny out and you won’t want to burn.
Have you been whale watching in California? What did you see? Share in the comments!
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