This bay is particularly noted for the seasonal migration of the California gray whales that come here during winter to calve.

The bay includes the small fishing port of San Carlos, as well as Puerto López Mateos, which provides a good place to observe the whales.

Between 1845–46 and 1865–66, American, as well as a few French, Dutch, and Russian, whaleships hunted gray whales in the bay during their winter calving season.

[2][3] They primarily caught cows and calves, but began catching bulls as the former became scarce.

[2] They also visited the bay to obtain wood, catch fish and turtles, and harvest oysters.