Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales
Harbor Seals
Steller Sea Lions

July 12, 2025 | 9 AM, 1 PM, and 5 PM Whale Watch

Captain Carl won the gold star award today! Finding the first whales of the morning and a T-party no-less! We had worked our way up the eastern coastline of Guemes Island, enjoying the company of several bald eagles and dozens of active pigeon guillemots. We’d continued north through the Outer Islands, heading to the western side of Sucia when Carl sighted blows on the horizon. It turned out to be the T49As (minus A1&A2), T37A1, and the T36As (minus A1 & A1A). They were frolicking and socializing while gradually swimming against the ebb tide. Nat and Storm were having a bromance moment while the rest hung close together. As the encounter progressed, the younger whales also started playing and socializing, waving their flukes, porpoising, swimming upside down and more. It was a spectacular encounter with endless energy.

The cruise home was scenic, with Koma Kulshan just visible above Lummi Island. We also stopped for some sleepy Stellers on the Sinclair navigational marker.

We couldn’t think of a better way to start off a long day on the water than by finding a group of ten Bigg’s killer whales!

T49A Nan
T49A3 Nat
T49A4 Neptune
T49A5 Nebula
T49A6 Charlie II
T37A1 Inyo
T36A Leland
T36A2 Kailas
T36A3 Storm
T36A5 Squall

With more reports of whales filtering in from the north, we excitedly left the dock for our next adventure. The Bigg’s we had visited with this morning, had been just around the corner from another T-party that was seen off the northeast side of Sucia Island. This group had worked their way to the east, down the Matia shoreline and then off towards Alden Bank. We caught up with them just as they were splitting into three groups, and found the T77s and T99s working the contours of Alden. We stuck with the T77s to start, marveling as they worked their way through a kelp forest, spooking the many gulls gathered at a bait ball. We don’t get to see the T77s all that often, so it was fun to see how much Neftali and Misneach have grown.

We ultimately left them to see if we could catch up with the T99s. We found this pod of five right offshore of the Ferndale refinery. They were spread out and on the prowl, Barakat’s growing dorsal towering above the rest.

Before we’d found whales, we’d taken time to visit with a number of other marine mammals. Steller sea lions who were cuddled up in a navigational marker near Sinclair, dozens of harbor seals and their pups taking advantage of the low tide at the Sisters, and some very friendly harbor porpoises working the current lines just south of Clark State Park. We’d also found nesting pelagic cormorants, pigeon guillemots and soaring bald eagles.

T77 Asja
T77C Neftali
T77D Alcyon
T77E Misneach
T99 Bella
T99B Holly
T99C Barakat
T99D Puck
T99E qwinn qwinn oo qwii la

By the time we got off the dock for our evening trip, the tides had shifted and water was flooding back into the Salish Sea. We cruised up the eastern side of Guemes Island then angled for Hale Pass. The eastern shoreline of Lummi Island was bustling with life. Bald eagles in the tree tops, forage fish leaping from the emerald waters, seals chasing dinner, pigeon guillemots crash landing at the surface…there was so much to enjoy about this route.

We caught up with the T99s off Lummi Point. We’d arrived just in time to witness an epic, and efficient hunt, presumably of a harbor seal. Following a deeper dive where the pod had been angled towards the shallows just off Lummi Point, the water erupted in a flurry of activity. All five orcas worked together in water that, in places, was only 6 feet deep to coral their prey. It was incredible to witness, and not long after the emerald sea turned red… There were plenty of other signs a successful kill was made: gulls swooping down and flying off with strips of blubber, the distinct melon-like smell in the air, and a subtle slick forming at the surface. Barakat celebrated the hunt with three breaches and an impressive cartwheel!

The family rounded the tip of north Lummi then continued south. We took a moment to visit with some very active Stellers on a nearby marker. They seemed eager to get out of the water as the apex predators were swimming nearby. We then angled south to catch up with another pod who had worked their way down Rosario Strait.

We ended the day with the T46Bs beneath Eagle Cliff. The family of eight wowed us with every synchronized surfacing, the littles tucked in next to their mom’s sides. It was such a beautiful end to the day.