Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T36As & T99B)
Steller Sea Lions
Harbor Seals
Bald Eagles
Sea Otter

March 29, 2025 | 12 PM Whale Watch

Today’s trip was packed with marine mammals! We met up with the T36As and T99B in San Juan Channel, just outside of Friday Harbor. This group of seven was traveling quickly south, rough housing as they went. It was fun watching them leap on top of one another and throw flukes in the air as they porpoised south. It’s amazing to see how much the littles have grown! We noted Drift (T36A1A) looking nice and chunky and Storm (T36A3) looks like he is starting to sprout!

We continued south down San Juan Channel from there, fighting the raging flood tide in Cattle Pass to get to Whale Rocks. There were so many Stellers here today, in addition to two bald eagles. It was fun to listen to the Stellers vocalize, but the scent was next level today…

We continue along the southern coast of Lopez, scanning the strait of Juan de Fuca as we went. We tucked inside of Castle Island, spying some darling harbor seals amongst the rocks. From here we turned north into Rosario Strait. We stopped at Bird Rocks, always a highlight. Dozens of harbor seals were snoozing, a couple Stellers were swimming, and our little sea otter friend was being sneaky near the shoreline! Captain Tyson had the eagle eyes, spying this furry guy tight to shore, every seal turning to look at him as he swam past. We also found harlequin ducks, cormorants and gulls here.

It was such a beautiful day on the water, and the wind mellowed for us throughout the adventure! By the time we returned to Cap Sante, it was sunny and calm.

- Naturalist Sam