September 3, 2025

Sep 3

Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Humpback Whale (BCY0983)
Sea Lions
Sea Otter

September 3, 2025 | 12 PM Whale Watch

We headed out into the Salish Sea today as the sun was high and so was the heat. Cruising south on calm seas, we slowed down at the bottom end of Lopez Island and slipped in between Castle Rock and the Lopez shoreline. A belted king fisher flew along the rocky cliffs, and a few harbor seals were hauled out on blind island. Two of which were very well camouflaged.

We continued west from there over the different shallow banks of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. As we came across Middle bank we joined up with a very hungry humpback whale known as BCY0983 "Aerie." We hung out with her for some time and even got some remarkable lunge feeding action at the surface. After departing this beautiful giant, we headed back to the east and stopped at the all too smelly, Whale Rocks. The refuge was covered with Steller sea lions and as we watched them, a nice small group came out to watch us. Their curious eyes engaged and inspected the Island Explorer 5 and all of her guests.

We circled the island and got a very special treat as a sea otter was nicely wrapped in bull kelp and taking a little nap. While the otter was adorable the smell was unbearable and so we departed back to the east, making our way back to Cap Sante marina after an amazing day in the Salish Sea.

-Tyson