Watch out for whales: Humpbacks swimming near Bay Area shores pose hazard to boaters

Ocean experts are telling boaters to tread lightly, as humpback whales have made their way under the Golden Gate Bridge, through the San Francisco Bay and around other Northern California waters.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, humpback whales make their way into the region to feed on small schooling fish and krill. This year, their prey has made its way closer to shore — and the whales have followed them to nearshore waters in the San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay and Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA officials said.