A large pod of about pilot whales was spotted off Orange County’s coastline this week, a first recorded in more than a decade for the species typically found off tropical waters.
The rare marine wildlife encounter happened on Nov. 3 when Capt. Erica Page aboard Newport Coastal Adventure spotted the pod of about 70 of the short-finned pilot whales, a dolphin species that typically prefer warmer, deeper offshore waters, said Jessica Rodriguez, education manager for Davey’s Locker & Newport Landing Whale Watching in Newport Beach.
“With a strong El Niño currently underway, changing ocean conditions might be influencing the presence of these unusual visitors, although we cannot say for certain what brought them here,” Rodriguez said in an email alert about the sighting. “The encounter was within reach of both our larger whale watching vessels and smaller adventure boats in Newport Beach to visit with the out-of-town whales.”
A pilot whale, one of about 70 in a pod, showed up off Newport Beach on Nov. 3, 2026, the first time since 2015. (Photo courtesy of Christine Schultz/Davey’s Locker)
The Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari crew also got to see the pod and a separate group of about 10 humpback whales was spotted during the same outing.
“Despite their name, pilot whales are toothed whales like orcas and belong to the dolphin family,” a Capt. Dave’s announcement about the sighting said. “These highly social animals travel in close-knit groups and can form large gatherings. Adults can reach approximately 18 feet in length and weigh more than 2,000 pounds. They favor warmer waters and feed primarily on squid, often diving to considerable depths in search of prey.”
Short-finned pilot whales were once regularly observed around Santa Catalina Island, where winter gatherings numbered in the hundreds, according to Capt. Daves.
Their numbers declined dramatically during the 1980s, following major environmental changes associated with the 1982–83 El Niño and a sharp reduction in local market squid populations, an important food source for the species, according to Capt. Dave’s.
“This was such a bucket list species for me,” Capt. Matt Stumpf said in a statement. “I’ve been whale watching out of Southern California for close to 20 years now, and I have never gotten to see pilot whales.”
The last time pilot whales were recorded around this area was the last big El Niño in 2014 and 2015 that brought unusual encounters similar to what ocean charters and fishing boats are seeing this year: hammerhead sharks, yellowtail, tropical sea turtles and more.
Pilot whales were once abundant in the area and were once used as bait for sharks, until the Marine Mammal Protection Act outlawed the practice in 1972.
Wildlife photographer Patrick Coyne was aboard the Newport Coastal Adventure boat to document the encounter, calling it “one of the most incredible days I’ve had out on the water.”