Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

T123's (Sidney, Stanley, Darcy, Lucky)
Brandts and Pelagic Cormorants
Stellar Sea Lions
Harbor Seals

September 20, 2026 | 1 PM Whale Watch

Warm, sunny skies…rapidly disappearing fog bank…AND whales in our backyard? Luck was on our side today! We ventured out of Cap Sante Marina and headed to the backside of Guemes Island, towards some early-morning reports. Up ahead, we could see the edge of a fog bank that had been the gossip over the radios all morning. Fog can make boating conditions difficult, and increase the challenge of spotting far-off wildlife. But as we continued to approach, the fog receded, until we realized it had nearly vanished! We slowed by a red channel marker to visit with its tenants - four stellar sea lions! Three were snoozing out of the water, and one circled the can, searching for a spot to sneak in. We heard many impressive grunts from the three up top, declaring the can was full! Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants roosting in the marker watched the scene from above.

Just north of Sinclair Island, we met up with the T123’s pod of killer whales! A very well known family in the Salish Sea, we watched as Sidney, Stanley, Lucky, and Darcy cruised below Mount Baker, while demonstrating multiple behavior patterns. We witnessed these whales in travelling mode, with slow and rhythmic surfacings. Towards the end of our encounter, we witnessed some distinct splashing and surface activity, with quick direction changes and a spread among the group. A hunt very likely occurred below the waves, and appeared to be successful as the family once again resumed their rhythmic travelling.

After spending over an hour with these whales, we waved goodbye and headed to Peapod rocks, where we spent time with dozens of lounging harbor seals, unphased by the rising of the tide and the receding of the coastlines. On the way home, we realized the T123’s were just around the corner from Guemes Channel, so we journeyed to visit them one last time! Yet again swimming below the majestic peak of Mount Baker, we watched as the family engaged in yet another (theoretical) hunt below the water, and then bid them farewell as we pushed off into Guemes Channel and back home!

-Juna