What to Expect in January
January is one of the two busiest gray whale months in our log, along with February. The crew has logged gray whales on most January days since 2015.
This is the southbound half of the migration, with the whales heading to the lagoons of Baja California to breed and give birth. They usually pass about a mile off Oceanside’s coast. Our post on winter vs. spring whale watching explains how the two halves differ.
January at a Glance
- One of the two busiest months for gray whales
- Gray whales heading south to Baja California
- Common dolphins on most days, often in big pods
- Pacific white-sided dolphins logged often
What the Crew Logs in January
From the crew’s sightings log since 2015. Compare every month.
- Most days Gray Whales, Common Dolphins
- Often Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins
- Sometimes Humpback Whales, Fin Whales
- Rarely Mola Mola, Minke Whales, Elephant Seals, Bryde’s Whales, Thresher Sharks, Risso’s Dolphins
From 244 days with trips in January since 2015. Most days is half or more of those days, often is one in five or more, sometimes is one in twenty or more.
January 2026: What the Crew Logged
26 days with trips.
- 39 Gray Whales 2 mom and calf
- 28 Humpback Whales
- 8 Fin Whales
- 1 Minke Whale
Dolphins
- 30,850 Common Dolphins
- 250 Pacific White-Sided Dolphins
- 90 Bottlenose Dolphins
Counts add up across trips, so an animal seen on two trips is counted twice. Dolphin numbers are the crew’s estimates.
Dolphins in January
Common dolphins are logged on most January days, and the crew often counts them in the hundreds. Pacific white-sided dolphins visit for the winter and are logged often from December through February.
Read about the four dolphin species we see off Oceanside.
Before You Go
Dress in warm layers: it’s always 10 to 15 degrees cooler on the ocean than in the harbor. Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen if you plan to stay outside.
Whales travel around the clock, so there’s no best time of day to see them. The water tends to be calmer in the morning, though. Cruises last two hours from Oceanside Harbor, and trips often sell out, so book ahead.
More planning help: what to wear, how to avoid seasickness and what the cruise costs.
January Questions
Is January a good month for whale watching in San Diego?
Yes, for gray whales. In our log, January and February are their two busiest months. Sightings are never guaranteed, and the log above shows how often each species turns up in January.
How far out do you go to see gray whales?
Usually about a mile offshore. Gray whales are coastal navigators and often pass about a mile off Oceanside’s coast.
Which way are the gray whales going in January?
South. In January the whales are heading from their Arctic feeding grounds to the lagoons of Baja California. From late February they start heading back north.
Whale watching season, month by month · More winter months: December, February, March
Whale Watching in January
Head out from Oceanside Harbor in one of the two busiest months for gray whales.