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.

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 Rod
- Originally from: California (Santa Ana, Clovis, San Diego, Martinez)
- Years on the water & with Discovery: 20+ Years, w/ Discovery since May 2019
- Favorite marine animal: Sharks!
- Name a maritime superstition/myth you believe in: The Kraken
- Captains’ pet peeve: Passengers or crew standing up in front of the boat while he’s navigating
Captain Danny
- Originally from: Fort Ord, California
- Years on the water & with Discovery: 30+ years, w/Discovery since 2018
- Favorite marine animal: Baird’s Beaked Whales
- Name a maritime superstition/myth you believe in: Bananas on boats are bad luck.
- Captains’ pet peeve: Crew forgetting his personal coffee pot and passengers or crew standing up in front of the boat while he’s navigating
Captain JJ
- Originally from: Monterey, California
- Years on the water & with Discovery: 20+ years, w/ Discovery since 2017
- Favorite marine animal: the one we are watching at that moment in time
- Name a maritime superstition/myth you believe in: Doing a lucky donut (360° boat turn) in hopes it would conjure up a whale.
- Captains’ pet peeve: People asking too many questions
Captain Andrew
- Originally from: Bremerton, Washington
- Years on the water & with Discovery: 9 years, w/Discovery since September 2017
- Favorite marine animal: Humpback Whales
- Name a maritime superstition/myth you believe in: “Red sky in the morning sailors take warning, red sky at night sailors delight” – using the color of the sky to predict the weather
- Captains’ pet peeve: Crew leaving the wheelhouse doors not the way they found them
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.
Kaila
- Hometown: Massachusetts
- Been with Discovery Whale Watch since: July 2022
- Favorite Marine Animals: Blobfish & Manatee
- What’s something you’ve learned about whales or marine life since working here? Humpback Whales have one of the longest migrations know to any mammal!
- What advice would you give to someone going whale watching for the first time? Please thoroughly read that confirmation email we send you.
Sam
- Hometown: Los Angeles, California
- Been with Discovery Whale Watch since: January 2025
- Favorite Marine Animals: Great White Sharks
- What’s something you’ve learned about whales or marine life since working here? White sharks have endothermy, a warm-blooded trait that lets them regulate body temperature which was key to their survival through the Ice Age, unlike megalodon!
- What advice would you give to someone going whale watching for the first time? Wildlife runs on its own schedule, so expect more whale waiting than watching. Enjoy the adventure on mother ocean!
Hannah
- Hometown: Elk Grove, California
- Been with Discovery Whale Watch since: January 2025
- Favorite Marine Animals: Harbor Seal
- What’s something you’ve learned about whales or marine life since working here? Gray Whales have different organisms living on their skin and it creates this mini ecosystem!
- What advice would you give to someone going whale watching for the first time? Go with the flow. Don’t be afraid to get wet and always look around, because you’ll never know what might pop up!