See massive sea creatures feed on salmon for hours off CA coast. ‘Lifetime experience’

Onlookers spotted sea creatures feeding off the California coast, leaving them with a “lifetime experience.”

On March 4, viewers saw between 20 and 25 southern resident killer whales swimming through Monterey waters, according to a Facebook post by the Monterey Bay Whale Watch.

Initially, the group thought the killer whales belonged to the Bigg’s species before realizing their “very straight dorsal fins, rounded dorsal tips and “unique eyepatches” could only classify them as southern resident killer whales, officials said.

Another recognizable difference between Bigg’s orcas and southern resident killer whales is their diet, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Bigg’s killer whales, which tend to roam in small groups, prey on mammals such as seals and whales, while resident killer whales travel in “tight-knit family pods” and prey on salmon and other fish, the NOAA said.

Drone footage showed the whales feeding on salmon, with one whale being captured with a fish hanging out of its mouth.

The birds in the area were happy, too, as they were able to grab the scraps the orcas left behind, the group said.

The orcas were spread out throughout the hours-long feed, which is normal, the post said.

The group even saw the whales celebrating their feed with breaching, officials said.

This is only the 10th time since 2000 southern resident killer whales have been documented in Monterey Bay, viewers said.

The whales, mostly spotted off Washington and British Columbia, Canada, are an endangered population, numbered at 73, officials said.

Monterey is about a 120-mile drive southwest of San Francisco.

This story was originally published March 5, 2025 at 6:12 PM with the headline "See massive sea creatures feed on salmon for hours off CA coast. ‘Lifetime experience’."