Check Out the 'Phenomenal' Pictures and Video of Endangered Whales Spotted Off California Coast

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (TheBlaze/AP) -- Grab your camera and binoculars: There's rarely been a better time to go whale-watching off the California coast.

Tourists from around the world have been flocking to Monterey Bay to catch a glimpse of the massive marine mammals, including impressive numbers of blue whales, the largest animals on earth.

Longtime observers say they've seen a sharp increase in endangered blue and humpback whales feeding near California shores, where they spend the spring and summer before heading to their winter breeding grounds off Mexico and Central America.

"It's phenomenal that these humongous creatures are out there and we just get to go out on a boat and go out and watch them," said Santa Cruz resident Susan Stuart after a recent whale-watching cruise.

Watch the AP report:

What's bringing the whales so close to shore? A bumper harvest of their favorite food: tiny, shrimplike critters known as krill.

Strong northwest winds have been pushing up cold, nutrient-rich waters from the ocean bottom - a phenomenon known as upwelling. That has fueled blooms of phytoplankton that have led to an explosion of krill, the main food source of blue and humpback whales.

"The season overall has been pretty exceptional and we're not done," said Nancy Black, a marine biologist with Monterey Bay Whale Watch, which offers bay cruises twice daily.

The abundance of whales has been a boon to boat tour operators in Monterey Bay, whose deep underwater canyon makes it one of the best places to see whales, dolphins and other marine life.

"The word is out right now. If you want to see a whale or blue whale or several species of whale, now's the time to go for sure," said Ken Stagnaro, co-owner, Santa Cruz Whale Watching, who estimates business has doubled this year over last year.

"When you see a whale in the wild, it's a life changing experience," said Maureen Gilbert, an on-board naturalist for Santa Cruz Whale Watching. "You're never the same person after you've had that kind of encounter with a wild animal."

One photographer was able to capture stunning photographs of a humpback whale surprising onlookers aboard a boat and in kayaks. Bill Bouton, according to Fox News Insider, was originally taking pictures of birds, but the mouth of a humpback emerging from the water became the unexpected focal point.

Watch Bouton talk about his photos with CNN:

Check out these videos of whale watching experiences recently off the California coast.

This video shows a woman kayaking in Avila Beach who was stunned when a whale popped up next to her:

Video taken on a Dana Wharf whale watching tour:

Here is footage from Capt. Dave's Whale and Dolphin Safari:

This story has been updated to include more information.