Weekly Whale Watch Report: 04/06/26 - 04/12/26

T90B, Piglet, surfacing in Burrows Bay. Photo Credit: Naturalist Megan MacGregor

Whales in Anacortes WA: Who We Saw

The second week of April didn't disappoint! Across nine tours, our whale watching tours encountered some Salish Sea regulars, as well as some newcomers to the area.

A gray whale fluking in the Salish Sea. Photo Credit: Captain Trevor Derie

Species Seen This Week

Killer Whale - Total: 20

Humpback Whale - Total: 1

Gray Whale - Total: 4

Individual Whales Seen This Week

Killer Whale:

We encountered orcas 4 times and identified 12 individuals across 3 matrilines.

These included:

• T34s

• T37s

• T90s

  
  

Humpback Whale:

We encountered humpback whales 1 time.

We identified this whale as:

• CRC-22923 (nickname unknown)

Newcomer alert! This is the first time this humpback has been photographed in the Salish Sea, having only been seen off the coast of California before this recent sighting.

Gray Whale:

We encountered gray whales 4 times.

We believe this is the same gray whale spotted each time, although we do not yet have an identification on this whale.

Highlights from Anacortes Whale Watching Tours

Stellar sea lions barking over space on a channel marker. Photo Credit: Naturalist Megan MacGregor

In addition to whales, our guests also enjoyed sightings of several other iconic Pacific Northwest species. Stellar sea lions jumped off channel markers, harbor seals hauled on rocks, and bald eagles took to the sky.

The T90s spent most of the week near Anacortes and the San Juan Islands. Photo Credit: Naturalist Megan MacGregor

The 2026 Spring whale watching season is well under way. Every day is a unique suprise for all on board. Book your trip today!

If you want to see more photos and videos from our tours, check out our social media accounts! Find us on Instagram @outerislandx, TikTok @outerislandexcursions, and Facebook as "Outer Island Excursions".