The immature whales, adult males and females without calves are the first to head north, passing the Peninsula in March and April. The North Head Lighthouse and Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center are excellent choices. Choose a time Pick early morning hours when conditions are usually more favorable prior to the onset of winds and their accompanying whitecaps. Choose weather that favors a calm ocean. Don't go during or just after a heavy storm.
Overcast days are good because there is little glare.
What to look for Scan the horizon and look for the blow, the whale's vapor, water or condensation blown up to 12 feet in the air when the whale exhales. Once a blow is located, stay with it. Where one blow is viewed, others will follow either from the same whale or others. Frequently, the animals leave turbulent eddies along the surface after short dives. Usually, only a small portion of the whale's head and back show during a blow.