Extended Range Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T18s)
Humpback Whales (CRC-22840, CRC-15263, CRC-15701, CRC15966)
Minke Whales
Harbor Seals
California and Steller Sea Lions
Sea Otter
Bait ball
Jumping Salmon
Sea Stars
Eagles, Herons, and Kingfishers
So many sea birds!

August 19, 2025 | Extended Range Whale Watch

WHAT A DAY!!! We covered 161 nautical miles and saw more than 20 different animal species!

We had 12 hours on the water today and traveled far and wide while on our search. Beginning the day with a 6AM departure, we cruised out of the marina as the first light of morning pressed soft pinks and oranges into the sky. Traveling up the east side of Guemes, we made a small search loop to the north. We then cut across the south side of Vendovi and hopped up around Sinclair before plunging back down into Rosario Strait. Here, we set a course for far beyond the horizon to the west.

We made our first stop of the day admiring the impressive cliff sides of Castle Island and South Lopez. In the thin morning light, we spotted charming pairs of marbled murrelets, purple and orange pisaster sea stars, a mature bald eagle in flight over head, a belted kingfisher flitting from rock to rock looking for breakfast, and sleepy harbor seals getting ready for a day of foraging.

Breaking into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, we crossed over McArthur Bank and slowed along the ridge line of Hein. After a moment of patience, a minke whale broke the glassy surface. We were on our toes, knowing the mischievous and sneaky habits minke whales can at times participate in. However this individual scooted along in a slow, relaxed travel line that allowed us to get some phenomenal looks.

After our first whale of the day, we doubled back towards Salmon bank to follow some early morning fishing reports of orcas, two large males and one female... a description that sounded too familiar, and too tempting, to leave the area unsearched. Could this have been the legendary T19 Mooya and her two massive adult sons, some of the largest whales in the population? We skirted along the southside of San Juan Island, binoculars at the ready, but alas no dorsal fins were seen. Knowing we had a whole day of searching ahead of us, we made the turn and aimed for Race Rocks.

Here, we pulled into quite the spectacle. Naturalist Sam spotted splashing and porpoising in the distance, which we first thought belonged to our spirited and sneaky pacific white sided dolphins. However, upon closer inspection, we realized it was a massive raft of sea lions! But what was riling up those pinnipeds? It was none other than CRC-15966 Merlin the humpback. This massive whale swirled and danced along the kelp forests that surround Race Rocks, spy hopping and trumpeting as sea lions lept and swirled around him. Soon enough, we realized we had a second humpback further off of Race as well, who was identified as Vega by a fellow whale watching vessel. While visiting here, we also spotted a sea otter floating off in open water, poking its head up tall to investigate its surroundings. Eager to get further west, we turned and pointed past Race and towards the Sooke Coastline.

Race Rocks marks the edge of our search range on our signature whale watch trips, so watching it shrink behind us as we continued west felt as though we were crossing a boundary, beginning a true adventure into the unknown and leaving familiarity behind us. Trailblazing along the southern coastline of Vancouver Island, we spotted blows in the distance to our left and right. We noted where these whales were and continued pushing west. Soon, a large waving pec fin caught our eye. We slowed to a stop and approached a very friendly humpback whale that was rolling around in some bull kelp at the surface, draping it over its body and pec fins in a behavior known as kelping. Seeing this massive animal move slowly and gently, weaving the blades of kelp around itself, was a truly magical sight. After good time spent with this individual, we gradually picked up the pace again, arcing to the south. Deeper into the Strait, we encountered two more gorgeous humpbacks, CRC-15263 Mathematician and a mystery humpback we didn't get and ID match for. We said goodbye to these two whales as they dove deep below the surface and continued on our search.

Further east, we also had a brief but beautiful encounter with CRC-22840, a 2 year old humpback who doesn't have a nickname yet. It's always so exciting to see young whales returning to the Salish Sea season after season and watch them grow into their massive adult size. Once this juvenile decided to commit to a deep dive, we picked up speed again and pointed for Race Rocks.

Here, we spent some peaceful, tranquil time with a large gathering of California and Steller sea lions. These pinnipeds displayed their mastery of zen as they barked, grunted, growled, snapped, and snarled at each other. As we cut back past Victoria, we angled for Hein bank again. Before we reached it though, we slowed for one more blow-- CRC-1507 Smudge. Smudge belongs to the 3% of eastern pacific humpbacks that have switched up their southern migration locations, and has been seen in both Hawaiian and Mexican waters. Smudge the international traveler! With flat calm, glassy conditions surrounding us, and not a whisper of wind, these encounters were nothing short of spectacular.

The smooth surface of the strait, reflecting the cool blue sky cut with light clouds, felt dreamlike as we searched for our minke friends once more. Surfacing from the deep, we spotted not one, not two, but three minke whales feeding in this area. They took breaths all around the boat. We even got to see a proper lunge feeding behavior right at the surface! And after seeing some tiny, bubbling splashes, we crept over to see a tiny school of baitfish fighting for their lives as salmon lurked below in the clear, deep green water, waiting for their time to strike. While exploring this expansive body of water, we also spotted countless birds, of which the following species were documented:

Red necked phalaropes
Sooty shearwater
Parasitic jaeger (seen by a few)
Common murres
Pigeon guillemots
Marbled murrelets
Cormorants
Gulls: glaucous winged and Heermann’s
Rhinoceros auklets

As the morning turned to afternoon, we angled north towards Cattle Pass, following reports coming in from the heart of the San Juans. We cruised up San Juan channel and took a right into Wasp Passage. Jetting up into West Sound, we came on scene with the very whales we had searched for this morning... the iconic T18s! This small family group, led by T19 Mooyah, worked their way into the sound, exploring and scouting. Traveling with this at least 60 year old matriarch were her two mature sons, 30 year old T19B Galliano and 24 year old T19C Spouter. These males are absolutely massive, their dorsal fins so large they've started to warp and lean.

We hung with this group as they made an arc around the sound and began to angle back out, hugging the east shoreline tightly. Once these whales passed the Orcas Island ferry terminal, traveling as a tight knit, synchronized unit, we said goodbye to Mooyah and her family and began the journey back home.

Cutting through Thatcher Pass, we jumped across Rosario Strait and made one final slow down scouting the shoreline of Cypress Island, spotting a great blue heron balancing on a raft of bull kelp. Angling down into Guemes Channel, we ended our grand adventure with gorgeous views of Yellow Bluff, Guemes Island, and the Anacortes shipyards. We want to thank our guests for their dedication, adventurous spirits, curiosity, and passion for our beautiful marine animals and ecosystem. We can't wait for our 2026 extended ranges, and we hope to see you on board!

-Sam, Amy, Juliann, and Serena