Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's killer whales (T60s & T18s)
Steller sea lions
Puffins!
Cattle Point Lighthouse

August 17, 2026 | 10 AM and 3 PM Whale Watch

10 AM

search around Sinclair Sea lions Inner island to cattle 60 bros off Vic

This morning we began our search heading north. Up around Sinclair Island, we passed by a few Steller sea lions hanging out on a navigational marker. Rounding into Rosario Strait, we got word of a promising report out west, so we turned into the islands and pointed for Cattle Pass. Pushing all the way out west to the very edge of our search range, we met up with an iconic duo of Bigg's killer whales, the T60 brothers! These two males, T60D Onca and T60E Lynx, have been regularly dispersed from their mother T60 Panthera and other siblings since 2021. 22 year old Onca and 18 year old Lynx seem to have no plans to meet back up with the family, continuing their extended sibling vacation and most likely enjoying a lack of parental supervision. We hung with Onca and Lynx as they slowly made their way east, then waved goodbye and plunged into the fog covering the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca. Turning up into Guemes channel, we broke out of the fog and into clear skies, the perfect end to a spectacular morning!

3 PM

With fog still swirling over Rosario Strait, we turned south this afternoon and into the gray. At Lawson reef, we paused for few very sleepy Steller sea lions, then continued south towards Hein bank. Just south of Hein, we met up with three Bigg's killer whale legends: T19 Mooyah, T19B Galiano, and T19C Spouter. We marveled at Mooyah's two adult sons, some of the largest males in the population, as they surfaced in a slightly spread formation. We hung with these three as they made their way north, and got some absolutely stunning looks at Mooyah and Galiano off our bow before deciding to turn off towards Smith island. At smith, we came across more tufted puffins than we could count. But that wasn't all, sharp eyed captain Tyson also spotted the rarest of all... the horned puffin! This marvel was hanging out with three tupus, bobbing together in the small waves. This was the first time this season I've seen our horned friend-- such a treat!! After our trip to puffin land, we turned back to the north and made our way to Cap Sante. An exciting end to a fantastic afternoon! - Amy