Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's killer whales (T46Bs)
Gray whale
Harbor seals
Steller sea lions
Bald eagle
Calm seas

July 3, 2026 | 8 AM and 1 PM Whale Watch

8 AM Tour

As we headed out this morning the seas were painted gray under our overcast skies, lay flat calm before us. We headed out to Thatcher pass toward some reports and after an exhaustive search finding some eagles and a few harbor seals we headed south through Lopez sound and out into Rosario strait. It was here we found a gray whale feeding in the shallows and it was very social with us. After a while another report came in from a transport boat and we began to comb over Rosario strait. It didn't take long before we found the T46Bs traveling north and having a wonderful morning. This pod of killer whales has a few youngsters in it which really gave us some amazing and fun looks as they traveled along. We headed back to Anacortes after that, having completed an amazing and successful morning run.

- Tyson

1 PM Tour

This afternoon we ventured out into Rosario Strait. At Bird Rocks, we spotted cormorants and gulls chatting along the shoreline and several harbor seals hauled out resting in the exposed intertidal zone. Just a little ways to the west, we spotted our first whale of the day-- a gray whale! We spent several beautiful surfacings with this individual before spotting something else exiting Lopez Pass. After investigating, we realized we had come on scene with a family of Bigg's killer whales! And not just any Bigg's, the T46Bs! This pod is led by T46B Raksha. Traveling with her were all her kiddos (and one grandcalf) except T46B1 Tread, who now typically travels separately and with her own calves. T46B3 Sedna was also absent with her calf T46B3A Munro, however Sedna has also been taking some time away from Raksha recently. Most likely, she'll separate soon just like her older sister Tread. We cruised with this family past Decatur and James Island and departed as they reached Thatcher pass. With more reports coming in from the south, we pushed off and angled for the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Here, we searched for a humpback whale which had been seen earlier in the day. However, this individual was feeling sneaky and we were unable to reacquire. Since we were down by south Lopez, we did a nice scenic slow down by Castle Island and spotted countless pigeon guillemots flitting over the surface as well as a bald eagle perched on a dead snag on the Lopez Island shoreline. Pushing off to Lawson Reef, we also spotted a few Steller sea lions snoozing on a navigational marker. On our way back home, we discussed the killer whale identification process and got to practice identifying Raksha's dorsal fin as well as her daughter T46B2 Akela's dorsal and her son T46B4 Quiver's eyepatch. Another phenomenal day exploring the Salish Sea!

-Amy