Marine life
What is the Sardine Run: the hunt that brings together sea lions, marlin and seabirds
For a few weeks each year, schools of sardines become the center of a hunt that brings several marine predators together at once.
A hunt in broad daylight
The term sardine run describes a seasonal phenomenon in which large schools of sardines get trapped near the surface, compressed into tight formations known as bait balls. Several predators converge there at once, making it one of the most intense encounters the sea has to offer.
Who joins the hunt
California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) are often among the first to arrive, working together to isolate and keep the school compressed. Striped marlin join at high speed, using their bill to slash and stun sardines before picking them off; accounts documented by divers and by the Divers Alert Network describe this behavior as fast and, to some extent, still not fully understood by science.
From above, seabirds join the hunt, diving into the bait ball from the air.
Why it happens here, and at this time of year
The phenomenon depends on sardine availability, which in turn depends on nutrient-rich water. Off the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, these conditions are linked to coastal upwelling: cold, deep water rising to the surface and feeding the base of the whole food chain, from plankton to the largest predators.
The current status of our departures
Con Gorra’s published group Sardine Run departures are fully booked. We are not reopening spots or announcing a 2027 date yet; if you are interested in this experience, you can ask the team about future dates as they are confirmed.
How to prepare if you get the chance
If you join a trip like this, keep your snorkel gear ready, always follow the crew’s instructions, and remember that the action moves fast and unpredictably: patience in the water usually pays off more than rushing toward the bait ball.
References to keep exploring
Sources accessed on November 8, 2026. Editorial text by Con Gorra Expeditions.
