A pod of 13 Eastern Tropical Pacific orcas appaered off the coast of Newport Beach on September 28, 2026. The group, which included young calves, traveled from Dana Point toward Huntington Beach, attracting large crowds of locals and tourists.
Thirteen Orcas and Two Calves Drift from Dana Point to Huntington Beach
The marine event began early on Monday, September 28, 2026, when a pod of approximately 13 Eastern Tropical Pacific orcas was first sighted roughly five miles offshore of Dana Point. According to the report, the group moved northwards throughout the day, passing close to Newport Beach before heading toward Huntington Beach by the late afternoon.
The sighting drew a diverse crowd to the shoreline, including fishing crews and families on vacation boats. Captain Steve Burkhalter of Dana Wharf observed that the whales maintained a steady pace in a loose fluke-trailing formation. The spectacle was captured by various witnesses, including Kristen Merjanian and her daughter Olivia, as well as the Perino and Jones families, who shared their images across social media platforms.
The Salmon and Tuna Hunting Tactics of ETP Orcas
The specific behavior of these whales suggests they were utilizing the Southern California coast as a temporary stopover. Marine naturalist and photographer Laura Lopez, providing commentary aboard a Dana Wharf vessel, explained that Eastern Tropical Pacific orcas are characterized by their aggressive hunting of tuna and salmon. as reported in the source, the presence of two calves within the pod indicates that this was likely a brief residency during a much larger oceanic journey.
The rhythmic surfacing patterns observed by witnesses—where the whales would take quick breaths before diving for several minutes—are typical of these cetaceans. This encounter has renewed local interest in marine biology and sparked calls for more rigorous ocean stewardship to protect the species as they navigate these coastal waters.
A Rare Decade of Sporadic Sightings in Orange County
While Newport Beach is a popular spot for marine life, the appearance of Eastern Tropical Pacific orcas in Orange County remains an anoomaly. Over the last ten years, only a small number of these groups have been recorded near the California coastline, and their visits do not follow any predictable seasonal pattern.
This rarity makes the September 28 encounter a "chance-of-a-lifetime sighting" for the residents of Southern California. The unpredictability of these southern residents underscores the dynamic and often mysterious nature of marine mammal migrations, reminding the public that familiar coastal environments can suddenly host rare, large cetaceans.
The Mystery of the ETP Pod's Unpredictable Migration Patterns
Despite the excitement of the sighting, significant gaps remain in the scientific understanding of why these orcas visit the California coast. It remains unclear what specific environmental triggers draw the Eastern Tropical Pacific pods to Newport Beach or why their movements are so sporadic.. The report notes that scientists are currently attempting to bridge these gaps by deploying satellite tracking and acoustic listening devices.
Furthermore, the source focuses primarily on the observations of whale-watching crews and naturalists; there is a lack of detailed data from government marine agencies regarding the health or origin of this specific pod. This lack of systematic monitoring suggests that while the public is captivated,the scientific community is still playing catch-up with the movements of these iconic ocean giants.
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