About Chris' Fishing and Whale Watching
Chris' Fishing and Whale Watching is the longest-running charter operation on Monterey's Fisherman's Wharf, with roots stretching back to the 1940s when commercial fishing was still the lifeblood of the waterfront. Today the family-operated business runs daily deep-sea fishing trips and whale watching cruises from Wharf #1, putting passengers within close range of the Monterey Submarine Canyon — a 2-mile-deep undersea gorge that funnels nutrient-rich water to the surface and attracts an astonishing concentration of marine life year-round.
Fishing charters target seasonal species including salmon, halibut, lingcod, rockfish, and albacore tuna on half-day and full-day trips aboard well-equipped party boats with rod rentals, bait, and fish cleaning included. Whale watching departures run at least twice daily, with winter trips focused on California grey whale migration and summer excursions targeting humpback whales, blue whales, and orcas that feed over the canyon. Naturalist guides are aboard every trip, and the close proximity of the canyon to shore means whales are often spotted within the first 20 minutes.
The appeal of Chris' is their unmatched institutional knowledge of Monterey Bay waters. After eight decades of operation, their captains know the canyon's productive spots, current patterns, and whale movement corridors better than anyone on the wharf. Combined with their prime Fisherman's Wharf location — walkable from downtown hotels and the Aquarium — they remain the most convenient and experienced charter option in Monterey.
