Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Humpback Whale
Harbor Porpoises
Pink Salmon

September 2, 2025 | 12 PM Whale Watch

We started our journey with a search of Bellingham Bay and Bellingham Channel this afternoon. We passed pigeon guillemots as we worked our way up the Guemes Island shoreline, over to Toehead Island, and then past Eagle Cliff. The views of Cypress Island and Eagle Cliff were breathtaking, the hazy lighting adding a moody feel to the scene. We passed small flocks of gulls as we cruised south down Rosario Strait, and many active pods of harbor porpoises as we passed James Island. As we neared Bird Rocks, we heard word from our friends of whale sightings to the north, so we made a 180 degree turn and booked it north.

This path brought us past the Peapods, Clark Island, Matia Island and deep into the Strait of Georgia. Salmon were leaping in every direction, and harbor porpoise dorsal fins sliced through the still waters that extended through the southern Strait this afternoon. As we neared Point Roberts, we spied a dorsal ridge arching on the horizon! It was a beautiful humpback whale. We slowly cruised with this individual as it maintained a rhythmic breathing patten. After one deeper dive, it wowed us by coming in close to say hello, those on the bow getting gently misted by whale snot. The identity of this whale remains a mystery, as it never showed off its flukes, but perhaps dorsal analysis will reveal its name down the road.

Our return trip home was smooth sailing, but it was clear just how much the smoke from surrounding forest fires had settled over the sea. We could hardly make out the skyline of Vancouver City or the peak of Lummi Island from where we were during our whale encounter. We hope wildland firefighting crews are staying safe out there, and that Mother Nature brings some much-needed rain soon. Despite the haze, it was a stunning cruise home dotted with more salmon, bird, and porpoise sightings along the way.

-Sam