‘Curious’ sea creature circles boaters off California coast. See ‘amazing’ moment

A massive sea creature got “curious” about boaters off the coast of California, and onlookers are calling the moment “amazing.”

A group got the chance to see a “megapod of feeding long-beaked common dolphin” after leaving the harbor, according to a May 25 Facebook post by the Dana Wharf Whale Watch.

As the group continued traveling offshore they saw a “tall blow which was likely a fin whale,” the group said.

Eventually, the boat’s captain got a glimpse of a minke whale as it breached 20 times, the group said.

Minke whales are the smallest baleen whale in North American waters and can reach lengths of up to 35 feet and weigh up to 20,000 pounds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

They usually are spotted alone or in groups of two or three and use side-lunging as a way of feeding on schools of fish, the NOAA said.

The minke whale took three laps around the tour group’s boat before the passengers witnessed a “stampede” of dolphins racing alongside the boat, the whale watching company said.

Commenters were in agreement the sight was “friggin awesome” with one person saying, “minkes are the best,” the group said.

“How cool!” another person wrote.

Dana Point is about a 60-mile drive southeast from downtown Los Angeles.

This story was originally published May 27, 2025 at 1:56 PM with the headline "‘Curious’ sea creature circles boaters off California coast. See ‘amazing’ moment."