Whale Watching Report

Our trip took us out into Guemes Channel where we found lots of harbor porpoise swimming in the current lines. We took a left and headed south in Rosario Strait. At the south side of Allan Island, we started seeing dorsal fins! We had orcas right off Anacortes! The first whales we spent time with were Blackberry and his little brother Mako. They were definitely engaged in some fishing. Then we found Princess Angeline, Tahlequah and Princess Angeline's new calf J44. Then we found Polaris and her new calf J46. They were riding the wake of a passing boat. Then Spieden and Riptide came over and we spent a little bit of time before moving on to some other whales. We saw Mike in the distance. Then Samish and her whole family (Hy'Shqa, Suttles and Se-Yi'-chn) came over and gave our customers some great looks, Riptide even met up with his mom again. We left the whales and explored Deception Pass, Williamson Rocks, Burrows Island and on Allan Island we found a bald eagle perched in a snag. We found another bald eagle off Washington Park. It was such a wonderful morning on the water; J-pod whales so close to homeport!

The evening trip started off with harbor porpoise in Guemes Channel and Rosario Strait. As we rounded the south end of Colville Island, we found some harbor seals hauled out. We made our way to the south end of San Juan Island where we got a couple of looks at a minke whale before we left in search of orcas. We didn't have to go much further before we found Slick and her family (Mike, Keet, Alki and Echo). Slick was very active and even breached a couple of times for us! Mike gave us some great looks too. Then we met up with Spieden and Riptide; we got a couple of good looks before Captain Carl saw some more active whales in the distance. We headed toward Blackberry and his little brother Mako. Blackberry breached for us and Mako was going crazy chasing a fish! It was amazing to watch these two brothers having a good time! As we left the whales, we got one more look at Slick and her family as they headed east. On our way back, we did a slow down through the south end of Lopez Island and Castle Rock. We found an immature bald eagle perched on Blind Island. He took off and he was getting harassed by about six crows. We found another immature bald eagle on the way back north in Rosario Strait. It really was a magical evening we spent with J-pod!