Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T60D, T60E)
Sea Lions
Harbor Seals
Common Loon

September 26, 2025 | 12 PM Whale Watch

This afternoon we began our journey aiming south down Rosario Strait. Making a quick stop at bird rocks, we spotted snoozing sea lions, a large conference of harbor seals down low near the waters edge, and of course more gulls and cormorants than we could count. Continuing down into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, we gave Salmon Bank a thorough search. Salmon bank, like other banks in the area, is a known congregation sight for larger baleen whales like humpbacks and minkes looking for baitfish along the underwater cliff faces, and we scanned hard for any blows or movement. While we didn't spot any larger cetaceans, captain Tyson found us a common loon bobbing around in the waves, a unique find! During our Salmon bank search, we also spotted a few more sea lions resting on the bank's navigational marker.

Making our way slowly north towards Cattle Pass, we met up with two well known Bigg's killer whales, the T60 brothers! 21 year old T60D Onca and 17 year old T60E Lynx have been regularly dispersing from their mother, T60 Panthera, and the rest of their siblings, since 2021, so seeing them without the rest of their family was no cause for concern. These two males meandered slowly south out of the pass, making a turn west. Clearly, they were in no rush, because we saw direction changes and slow, relaxed surfacings as we fell in line with their travel pattern. At the end of this encounter, we even got a spy hop just off our starboard side!

Onca and Lynx have been touring the southern Salish sea for the better part of 2 weeks now, making circuits between Race Rocks, the San Juan Islands, and the Canadian Gulf Islands. It's been so fun to track their movements and we're curious to see where they'll be spotted next. Clearly, they're having fun with no parental supervision, because they don't seem intent on making their way back to mom any time soon.

After our visit with the T60 brothers, we cruised back up through Cattle Pass and took an inner island route home. Cruising around Upright Head, we darted for Thatcher Pass before crossing Rosario Strait once again. What a wonderful day exploring the Salish Sea!

Amy