Fin Whales in Anacortes, WA: Rare Sightings of Salish Sea Whales

Drawing of Fin Whale. Photo Credit NOAA fisheries.

What is a Fin Whale?

Fin whales may be the second-largest animal on earth, but when these sleek, fast swimmers break the surface, believe it or not, their fin is not the first thing you’ll notice.

Their scientific name, Balaenoptera physalus, offers more insight into these quick, evasive whales. It may seem straightforward: Balaena, the Latin word for whale, and Pteron, the Greek word for fin. But it’s physalus that really sets this whale apart. Derived from the Greek physa meaning “blow,” the Fin Whale–also known as the fin back whale–is notorious for its giant exhale, a blow spout capable of reaching over twenty feet into the air.

Drone footage of fin whale. Photo Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Nicknamed the ‘greyhound of the sea’ for its streamlined form, fin whales can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour and hold their breath up to 45 minutes. Found throughout the world’s oceans, fin whales, a species of baleen whales, are filter feeders and can eat up to 2 tons, or 4,000 pounds, of krill and schooling fish per day. As migratory whales, fin whales only eat in the summer months and are typically solitary.

Can you see Fin Whales on Anacortes Whale Watching Tours?

Yes! However, sightings are rare, and if you’re lucky enough to see them, you won’t forget it.

This past summer, guests aboard an Outer Island Excursions Anacortes whale watching tour were greeted to a surprise of a lifetime: A blow that towered over the rest. For the first time since 2022, a fin whale was photographed back in the Salish Sea. For those joining Anacortes whale watching tours, sightings like this highlight just how dynamic Salish Sea whales can be.

Fin whale seen from whale watching boats outside of Anacortes, Washington. Photo Credit: Naturalist Sophia Madden

For local historians, biologists, and whale enthusiasts, this was a big moment. The Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) confirmed this whale had never been identified in the area and will now be added to the list of whales identified and tracked by researchers and whale watchers alike. Fin whales are quite uncommon in the region partially because in the early 1900s, when commercial whaling dominated the economy in northern Washington and British Colombia, over 5,000 fin whales were killed for their oil, meat, and baleen.

Although Fin whales are still considered endangered, their population is recovering and estimated to hover around 11,000 on the west coast of the United States. Unlike the return of humpbacks, only a handful of Fin whales have been spotted in the area in the last couple of decades. Whale watchers have localized the sightings in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the super highway that connects the Pacific to the Salish Sea, and this winter the same whale was identified in Bellingham Bay and near Deception Pass.

Best Time for Whale Watching in Anacortes and the San Juan Islands

Anacortes whale watching is considered one of the best wildlife experiences in Washington State. The Salish Sea is home to many types of whales in Washington and British Columbia. Two ecotypes of Orcas, also known as killer whales, can be found in the waters around Anacortes year round. Humpbacks, Gray whales, and Minke whales are known to migrate to the lush feeding grounds in spring and stay until fall. 

Fin whale in front of Mount Baker in the Salish Sea. Photo Credit: Naturalist Sophia Madden

If you’re hoping to be one of the lucky guests to catch a rare sighting of a Fin whale, aim for the summer months between June and August. Fin whales migrate south to warmer waters in the fall, however this one chose not to. The whale is likely young and didn’t have enough food to make the migration.

Book a Whale Watching Tour in Anacortes

If whale watching in Anacortes is on your bucket list, then you’ve come to the right place. Visitors planning San Juan Islands whale watching trips often choose Anacortes as their departure point because of its quick access to prime whale habitat. 

Only 90 minutes north of Seattle, Anacortes whale watching tours offer direct access to safely view Salish Sea whales without having to take a ferry. Whether you’re hoping to see Free Willy in the wild, spot a humpback, or search for a rare fin whale, the whales in Anacortes WA make every tour a unique experience.

Ready to experience whale watching in Anacortes? View our upcoming tour schedule and reserve your seats today.