NewsKTLA 5October 27, 2026Los Angeles County
13 killer whales surround whale watching boat off Southern California coast
Photo: KTLA 5
Thirteen killer whales approached a whale watching catamaran off the Southern California coast on Saturday, Oct. 24, in a rare encounter documented by Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari.
Read the full story at KTLA 5Why It Matters
The sighting provides researchers with new documentation of Eastern Tropical Pacific orcas traveling along the Southern California coastline.
Key Facts
- A group of 13 killer whales approached a whale watching catamaran off Southern California on Saturday, Oct. 24.
- The encounter was documented by a crew with Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari based in Dana Point.
- The whales exhibited a behavior known as mugging, where marine mammals voluntarily approach and linger near a boat.
- The 13 orcas separated into smaller groups and later reunited during the encounter.
- The whales belong to the Eastern Tropical Pacific population of orcas.
- Three different pods of Eastern Tropical Pacific orcas have recently been documented traveling along the Southern California coastline.
- A separate pod of eight to 10 killer whales, including three calves, was spotted near Redondo Canyon on Oct. 20.
Who's Mentioned
PersonGary Brighouse“Captain who commented on the encounter”PersonMatt Stumpf“Captain who commented on the unusual number of orcas”locationRedondo Canyon“location of a previous orca sighting”OrganizationHarbor Breeze Cruises“whale watching tour company involved in a separate sighting”locationDana Point“home base of Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari”locationPoint Vicente“geographic reference point near the Redondo Canyon sighting”locationSan Diego“area where whales were reportedly spotted days prior”OrganizationCapt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari“whale watching company based in Dana Point”