Sea lions first appeared at San Francisco's Pier 39 over 30 years ago, and hundreds have made this spot their home ever since. Here's how to best see them.

It's the most sea lions that have shown up there in 15 years, Sheila Chandor, Harbormaster for Pier 39 Marina, told ABC 7. On April 29, the pier tweeted that there were around 820 sea lions.

Pier 39 is getting a lot of attention right now. It's seeing the largest number of sea lions gathered in about 15 years. Pier 39 says they've counted about 1,000 sea lions this week.

It's a popular rest stop for sea lions, but the docks at the tourist hot spot these days are unusually packed out with the slippery residents. Conservationists are buoyed by the surge in visitors.

1 of 2 Sea lions sunbathe on a raft along Pier 39, on Thursday. The echoes of barking and blubber-slapping have grown louder in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf.

Sheila Chandor, Harbormaster for Pier 39 Marina says they've counted about 1,000 sea lions this week. "We haven't had these kind of numbers of sea lions for probably over 15 years," said Chandor.

Visitors gaze at sea lions lounging from Pier 39 on Thursday, in San Francisco. The echoes of barking and blubber-slapping have grown louder in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Pier 39 is getting a lot of attention right now. It’s seeing the largest number of sea lions gathered in about 15 years. The sea lions first appeared at Pier 39 after the ...

Hundreds of sea lions swarmed San Francisco’s tourist-packed Pier 39 — the biggest gathering of the slippery suckers in 15 years, experts said.

San Francisco's Pier 39 is getting a lot of attention right now. It's seeing the largest number of sea lions gathered in about 15 years.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Pier 39 is getting a lot of attention right now. It’s seeing the largest number of sea lions gathered in about 15 years. The sea lions first appeared at Pier 39 after the ...

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Pier 39 is getting a lot of attention right now. It’s seeing the largest number of sea lions gathered in about 15 years. The sea lions first appeared at Pier 39 after the ...