<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by pinniped:
Absolutely!! 
We are more interested in viewing pinnipeds in the wild up and down the CA coast than we are in seeing the ones at the aquarium. (Do they even have pinnipeds at the aquarium? I mean...why bother? 
) Still, we may go to the aquarium since it's such a "Must See" for Monterey. Ordinarily, we avoid those kinds of places on weekends.</font>
When are you going to be in Monterey?
At the moment there appears to be an unusual influx of sea lions in Monterey this year. Check out the Coast Guard pier and the Fishermans Wharf boat ramp and docks.
Plenty of harbor seals on the rocks between the two.
and of course Ano Nueve has the largest breeding population of Elephant seals in the world - North of Monterey. You will need a permit to see them:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=523
But why do I suspect you already know all this
The aquarium
is a "must do" despite the lack of pinnipeds. I may be of assistance here