Our Story

Randy’s Fishing Trips & Whale Watching, a long-standing institution at Old Fisherman’s Wharf since 1949 and operated by Peter Bruno since 1981, changed ownership in 2017 and became two new companies: Discovery Whale Watch and J&M Sport Fishing. Randy’s was one of Monterey Bay’s top whale watching and sport fishing outfits.

J&M Sport Fishing specializes in sport fishing trips for species such as salmon, rock cod, ling cod, Dungeness crab, sand dabs, squid, mackerel, and halibut. They currently have three fishing boats: Chubasco, New Horizon, and Kahuna, and their primary whale watching boat, Pacifica.

Discovery Whale Watch offers daily 3-4-hour whale watching trips narrated by a marine biologist/naturalist, along with ash scattering trips, private charters, and other outings. Their mission is to provide an inspiring, educational experience on Monterey Bay. Trips are weather permitting and explore various locations within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. All 4 of our boats can run whale watching trips!

Meet the Owner – Mathew Arcoleo

Mathew Arcoleo, who spent nearly 30 years in the high-tech industry in the Bay Area, has deep roots in Monterey, particularly on Fisherman’s Wharf. His great-grandfather started the first sport fishing enterprise there, and his grandfather and father owned Frank’s Fishing Trips.

As a child, Mathew was known as a “wharf rat,” spending time in his dad’s shop and working as a deckhand. He grew up in Monterey, attended local schools and Monterey Peninsula College, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from San Jose State and an MBA from Santa Clara University, leading to a successful career in the semiconductor industry.

However, Mathew always felt a pull back to Monterey. When Randy’s Fishing Trips & Whale Watching went up for sale, he saw it as an opportunity to realize his dream of owning a whale watch and fishing company on the iconic Fisherman’s Wharf.

Our Crew

Experienced Captains

Our whale watch captains have been working in the Monterey whale watching industry for years. They know the features of the bay and are able to anticipate the most likely locations for whale sightings. They are committed to ensuring passenger safety on board and strive to make the trip as comfortable as possible as well. We know that getting good views of whales and lining up the boat for photography are essential to having a good trip. Our captains love what they do and it shows!

Captain of Pacifica
Danny Frank

Captain of Kahuna
Rod Stoltz

Captain of Chubasco
JJ Rasler

Captain of New Horizon
Andrew Zazeski

Knowledgeable Marine Biologists and Naturalists

Our marine biologists and naturalists are passionate about the oceans and marine life. They will teach you about our local ecosystem in Monterey Bay while out on our daily whale watch trips. Our marine biologists and naturalists either have a degree in marine biology, marine science, and/or have a true passion for the ocean and it’s inhabitants. We strive to inspire the next wave of ocean enthusiast while out on our trips. You will learn about marine life and experience hands-on demonstrations and have an opportunity to interact with your crew one on one. Feel free to ask questions and expand your knowledge about our wonderful marine life with our crew! Our marine biologists and naturalists are also dedicated to marine research; they will be collecting research data while out on the trips for our collaborators on the west coast.

Welcoming Office Staff

Our office staff is there to welcome you from the very start! If you call, email, or walk-in, our team is happy to answer your questions and help you sign up for a whale watch trip. We are dedicated to customer service and very knowledgeable about whale watching in Monterey Bay.