Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Biggs killer whales (T36Bs, T36, T137A)
Humpback whales (BCX0519 Stitch and an unidentified individual)
Minke whale
Harbor seals
Bald eagles

August 5, 2026 | 10 AM and 3 PM Whale Watch

10 AM

This morning we ventured out under smokey skies and made our first stop of the day with a small Steller sea lion resting on a reef marker near south Lopez island. Pushing out into the strait, we stopped at Hein bank where captain Carl spotted a minke whale! We got a few looks at this fast moving individual as they circled and fed along the bank. Moving a bit further west, we soon came across two humpback whales just west of Coyote Bank. We got to spend a bit of time with each individual in glassy calm conditions. One of these whales was even playing with some kelp on each surface, draping it across their back just behind their dorsal. After getting a stunning sounding dive, we determined that the second humpback whale we spent time with was BCX0519 Stitch! Stitch has been seen over 200 times both in Hawaii and the Salish Sea, and we're so glad they've decided to spend yet another summer feeding here in these nutrient rich waters. After visiting with Stitch for as long as we could, we pushed back east and headed for home. It's always such a treat to be able to explore this deep into the strait of Juan de Fuca, especially with the flat calm conditions we had today!

3 PM

With new reports filtering in from the south, we pushed down Rosario Strait towards Admiralty Inlet. Before entering into the eastern strait of Juan de Fuca, we paused at Lawson Reef for a few sea lions resting on a navigational marker. Then, we cruised along the shoreline of Whidbey Island until we reached the mouth of Puget Sound, where we were greeted with some jet black dorsal fins. After getting oriented, we recognized that we were on scene wit the T36Bs, a family of Bigg's killer whales. This family was split into two groups, and we decided to visit with the southernmost group first. Our timing was perfect too, because we got on scene just as these orcas were finishing up a harbor seal hunt! In the mix was T36B Tattertip as well as her kiddos T36B1 Bhotia, T36B2 Greenfelder, and her newest, T36B4 Auk. Also present was little T36B1A Maple, Bhotia's first calf, born just last year. It seemed as though Tattertip, Greenfelder, and Bhotia were in teaching mode, and we got to see some explosive leaps and tail throws while Auk and Maple observed the hunt close to their moms. After the hunt had been completed, this group chilled out and got back into travel mode, moving north. With our time running out, we slowly cruised up to T36 Flapjack (Tattertip's mother), who was leading a little ways to the north with her assumed grandson T137A Jack. During this second encounter we also spotted a rhinoceros auklet with a bill load of fish at the surface. After several great looks at this grandmother-grandson duo, we cruised back to the north. We made one last stop at Williamson rocks where we spotted several harbor seals, double crested cormorants, gulls, and pigeon guillemots. It was an awesome and wildlife packed afternoon!