Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T137s)
Harbor Seals
Steller Sea Lions
Bald Eagles
Deception Pass

November 29, 2025 | 12 PM Whale Watch

LAST TOUR OF THE SEASON - And thus our 2025 whale watching season comes to a close…

Winter whale watching once again proved to be some of the best, with gentle lighting, diverse wildlife, and wonderful whale sightings. A high layer of clouds blanketed the sea but the Cascades were still visible in all their snow-capped perfection. Kulshan proved a prominent landmark for us through the bulk of our trip and even Tahoma was visible from her southern perch. The seas stayed calm throughout our adventure, and while there was a slight Arctic chill in the air, it was nothing some good layers couldn’t fend off, or a cocoa from the cafe! Despite the chill, our first sighting of the day was an open water swimmer right outside of the marina!!! Who could have guessed…

Loons led our way into Guemes Channel, where flocks of cormorants and pigeon guillemots were busy fishing. We spied our first of many eagles on the Belle Rock marker, and then two more at Bird Rocks. The presence of these predators sent a massive flock of dunlins soaring, and they wowed us with a mesmerizing murmuration. The Steller sea lion bulls watched them as they flew, quickly settling back into their naps once the flock landed again. Harbor seals hauled out on the leeward side of the islands, and some striking male harlequin ducks swam amongst the remaining bull kelp.

We pushed south from here, aiming for Deception Pass and towards reports filtering in from Saratoga Passage. The ebb tide was rocking, creating significant upwellings amongst the emerald waters flowing beneath the bridge. We held on tight, watching as great blue herons took flight and harbor seals fished amongst the eddies.

We wove our way through commercial crab pots that dotted the channel between Whidbey and the Skagit River Delta, scanning hard for blows and dorsal fins as we passed Polnell Point. Captain Shane sighted inky fins on the horizon and Amy expertly navigated towards the pod of four Bigg’s killer whales making their way north mid-channel. It was the T137s, one of our favorite families of four. A fitting find for our finale trip of the season given how many fond memories we’d made with this pod over the 2025 season. We watched as the pod converged on a suspected kill, seeming to prey share beneath the surface while gulls swooped in for scaps. After sharing their meal, they dove deep and fanned out, transitioning back into stealth mode as they sought out their next meal. It was interesting to witness the strategy at play. After a finale close pass by Jack himself, we said goodbye and worked our way towards home.

The sky was a shade of salmon as we worked our way with the tide through Deception Pass once again. Eagles flew overhead as gulls flocked to the current lines. It was a stunningly scenic cruise home, and a lovely end to a wildlife-packed season.

Until next year <3

- Sam