Giant Pod of Orcas Spotted Hunting Off San Diego
A giant pod of orcas was spotted last Friday off San Diego, killing and feasting on a fin whale.
So far, most footage from the extraordinary event has been released as brief clips on Instagram, including one that shows an orca "spyhopping" alongside a boat as if to inspect its passengers.
"You might get a spyhop at 1 o’clock," Capt. Domenic Biagini predicts in the video, moments before the orca raises its massive head several feet out of the water.
The photo above reveals an up-close view of a sleek and robust apex predator, built for power.
The Eastern Tropical Pacific killer whales (ETPs), more commonly encountered off southern Baja California and inside the Sea of Cortez, visit Southern California waters in hunting groups.
Their usual targets are common dolphins. But when they work together, ETPs can drown and kill large cetaceans, including fin whales, which are second in size only to blue whales.
A smaller group of ETPs killed a large fin whale off San Diego last Saturday (Oct. 17). Friday’s predation event involved a smaller whale.
One clip released Friday showed several orcas raising the whale to the surface alongside the 139-foot historic sailing vessel, Yacht America.
It was not clear if the ETPs were "prey sharing," a behavior they’re known for, or if the display was coincidental.
Several boats were expected search for the orcas last Saturday.
Written by Pete Thomas | October 24, 2026 | For The Win
I saw a large pod of Orcas when returning from Alaska years ago. About seven Orcas surrounded the ship and surfaced before spreading out to hunt. They are magnificent and powerful creatures. The hunting was well organized and reminded me of the raptor scene in "Jurassic Park". It was incredible to see. Their prey didn't have a chance.