Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Humpback whale (Gretzky)
Gray whale (CRC-2702)
Mouflon sheep
Steller sea lions
Harbor porpoises
Bald eagles
Pigeon guillemots
Anacortes Fireworks Show!!

July 4, 2026 | 8 AM, 1 PM, & 5 PM Whale Watch

8 AM

The first boat off the dock this morning, we set off with eyes peeled for any sign of cetaceans. We crossed paths with rhinoceros auklets as we cruised west across Rosario Strait, their little dark forms bobbing in the swell. We slowed at Pointer Island where glaucous winged gulls were hunkered down on their nests and cormorants perched atop the guano covered slopes. One gull had found the remains of a large fish that it was working to tear into at the water's edge. Nearby, harbor seals were hauled out just above the waterline.

We pushed through Thatcher and Pole passes, sighting bald eagles soaring through the trees and great blue herons perched on stilted legs. We visited Spieden Island, finding many mouflon sheep grazing along the slopes and munching algae within the exposed intertidal zone. A beautiful bald eagle was perched within a tree hanging over the water too!

We made the turn back to the east, working our way through Wasp, Cayou and Lopez passes and entering Rosario Strait once again. It was just outside of Lopez Pass that we encountered our first whale of the day! Gray whale CRC-2702 was busy feeding amongst the shallows. We were lucky enough to see their flukes with several deep dives and their heart-shaped blow hung suspended in the morning air.

As we watched this lovely gray, we received word of another baleen whale nearby, so we waved farewell to our friend and ventured into the swell growing on Lawson Reef. The westerlies combined with the ebb tide make for some serious seas at Lawson Reef. It looked as if someone had outlined the "L" shape of this underwater feature. To the north was smooth seas, to the south was, well, it was just gross....But the draw of whales lured us in. Luckily, Gretzky the humpback was kind to us and mostly stayed to the calmer side of the reef. When they did circle south, Captain Carl experely kept the sailing as smooth as possible. With a final flourish of the fluke that everyone onboard got to see, we made the turn for home.

1 PM

With word of orcas spotted to the north, and a renewed excitement for the journey to come, we set off up the eastern side of Guemes Island. The leeward sides of Guemes and Sinclair were blissfully sheltered from the westerlies howling through the Salish Sea today. We enjoyed this respite from the elements, spying harbor seals hauled out near Jack and bald eagles in the treetops. As we worked our way north, we received word that the reported whales had been lost in the growing chop in the southern Strait of Georgia. Undeterred, we set off to try our best to reacquire the pod.

The winds were growing, and we understood how the whales had gotten lost amongst the swell and white caps. However, we were traveling with the wind, so the seas felt smoother than they were as we scanned from shoreline to shoreline, working our way past Puffin Island and across Alden Bank. Eventually, we turned back into the wind, and enjoyed temporary shelter on the lee or Sucia. Pigeon guillemots flitted about and the sculpted sandstone shorelines were breathtaking.

We pushed back to the east from here, covering as much water as we could in our continued search, but alas it was not meant to be. So we worked our way past Point Lawrence and south down Rosario Strait. As we passed James Island, we saw a blow on the horizon! It was beloved gray whale CRC-2702 feeding near Lopez Island. We spent some quality time with this friendly gray whale, cheering as its flukes lifted high on each deeper dive. A wonderful end to our afternoon spent battling the elements in our exploration of this dynamic sea.

5 PM

After an overcast start to the day, we were thrilled to see the sunshine peek through the clouds this afternoon as we set off on our adventure. Cruising down Rosario Strait, we paused at Bird Rocks to check out a few harbor seals, gulls, and cormorants chatting about. Continuing on, we pushed towards Lawson Reef. Here, more energy from the Strait of Juan de Fuca surged in on a flood tide. But these sportier conditions were worth it because we soon spotted BCX1800 Gretzky, a humpback whale! Gretzky gave us some gorgeous looks and their exhalation glowed in the afternoon light. After visiting with this whale we turned in towards Deception pass and swung under the bridge for a scenic slow down. Pushing back up into the protected waters of Rosario Strait, we pushed into the Lopez Island shoreline. Here, just outside Lopez Pass, we spotted our second whale species of the day-- a gray whale! This individual fed in slow circles along this shallow muddy bay and we got to watch in awe as it surfaced and fluked, Mt. Baker acting as as a perfect backdrop. Continuing north, we dipped around the outside of James Island and made a brief stop at Pointer Island before skirting up Blakely. Here, we spotted a bald eagle perched in a shaded dead snag. At the top of Sinclair Island, we found several Steller sea lions-- with one tiny juvenile in the mix-- sharing space on a red navigational marker. We passed by Viti and Vendovi islands next, scanning the shoreline for more birds and seals. Down by Cypress, we were able to get a stunning look at another mature bald eagle soaking up the warm afternoon sunshine. Stopping right off Pelican Beach, we watched the sun set over the islands and made our way back to Fidalgo bay under peachy-pink skies. Setting up just outside Cap Sante Marina, we waited as the sky gradually faded into twilight. The fireworks began shortly after, lighting up the sky and sending shooting colors reflecting off the calm surface of the bay. After the stunning show, we slipped back into the harbor. Another fantastic fourth of July fireworks cruise in the books!

-Amy