The north puget sound gray whales, also known as the sounders, represent roughly a dozen individual whales, part of the larger population of the eastern north pacific gray whales. Whale species orca, minke, gray, humpback and many more. Lack of access to enough chinook and other salmon where and when they need it intensifies all the other problems puget sound s killer whales face. During this peak season our sighting success rate is at 9598% for viewing resident orca pods near victoria. They are also sometimes referred to as the puget sound regulars or the saratoga grays. Most seattle residents will consider it lucky to spot a single whale.
Guaranteed whale watching tours from port townsend olympic peninsula and seattleedmonds direct to the san juan islands. With the help of the orca network, the leading whale monitoring group in washington, we have found ways to help you see whales swimming in the puget sound, without leaving the city limits of tacoma. The same gray whales that return to the puget sound year after year gave researchers and whale watchers a surprise this year, breaking decades of migratory habits. The puget sound whale watching season runs from april through the end of september. The seattle aquarium and our partners are working to help protect these amazing creatures. The san juan islands are considered the jewel of the pacific northwest, located in the puget sound. Three excellent options for puget sound whale watching or sea life viewing while in the seattle washington area. Puget sound express launches 5th season of edmondsbased. Our 4hour whale watching cruise departs port townsend both in the morning 10am and in the afternoon 2. While orcas get most of the attention as far as whale watching goes, theyre far from the only whales in the puget sound. Puget sound express familyrun whale watching tours. The summer season starts on june 1st with marine area 10 opening for resident coho. Gray whales called sounders return to the puget sound to. We will cruise with puget sound express which is based in langley during gray whale season.
Seattle grab your camera, gray whale watching season has officially arrived around puget sound. After spending most of the summer in the san juan islands, our resident orca pods venture south into inland waters for the fall and early winter months, traveling down admiralty inlet chasing chum salmon runs into lower puget sound. Does anyone know if this is a good time to whale watch. Whereand howto see whales and orcas in the puget sound. Puget sound express preparing for spring season port. More details will be included in the 202021 washington sport fishing rules pamphlet, which will be available in june.
Whale researchers who track the small endangered population of puget sound orcas say three whales are believed dead or missing since summer. This past weekend was one of the best opening weekends weve ever had. Puget sound waters teem with wildlife that attracts these mammals close to. Any boat within a halfmile of the whales must also reduce speed to 7 knots or less. Those four whales, 44, 49, 53, and 56 all made their first appearance in puget sound back in 1991, gless said. Gray whales are best seen between march and may, as they make their way to their summer feeding grounds. While we do not guarantee whale sightings on our tours, 20 years of sightings data shows that we do have a 90% chance of seeing whales during the peak months of june september. Quebec, british columbia, new england, washington and oregon are among the best places in the world for whale watching.
Mammaleating orcasin the puget sound travel between alaska and the midcalifornian coast in small pods, usually between one and seven whales. This week, washington state ferries will be the first to use the whalereport alert system throughout puget sound, which will alert captains to credible whale sightings in the area. Sarah hank with the whale tour company puget sound express says the beloved whales are now in the puget sound, feeding. This team is working to identify how the state can help reduce the impacts of humancaused contamination on the orcas. Often seen during the spring in the salish sea, mammaleating orcas hunt other marine animals that feed on the herring in our waters from may to october. Port townsend tours run approximately 34 hours and the waters that we travel in are. For guided kayak tours, check out members of the san juan island kayak. Id like to go to seattle for several reasons but my main reason would be to whale watch. Three generations of family ownership have made the tour operators at puget sound express some of the most knowledgeable around. Seattle whale watching guide 2019 clipper vacations. The resident orcas are back as well, and with the weather becoming more and more summerlike. Discover and learn about whales and other marine mammals you can see while whale watching throughout the globe.
Were blessed to live in whats been called the american serengeti, with some of the highest concentration of whales and dolphins and sea life anywhere in the world including our totem species, the orca. Download the watching whales in the san juan islands brochure. The seattle metros only halfday whale watching tour. Gray whale watching near seattle, washington island adventures. During their northern migration from baja california, these individuals break off of the migration route to. Seattle to san juan island day trip with whale watching. Guaranteed whale watching tours puget sound express. In planning your visit, you may want to know what is the best time of year for port angeles whale. Sightings summaries archives sighting report archives. While we have wonderful boat tours that give you a great perspective, sometimes the whales. Today, the company has up to 30 employees during the season and operates four boats in puget sound, two in port townsend.
The southern resident killer whale srkw is a flagship species, a cultural icon. Whale watching is a favorite activity in and around puget sound. Whale watching in the san juan islands is a unique opportunity to gain. Depart from either port townsend or edmonds just 17 miles north of seattle for a whale watching tour. See the sounders a group of migrating gray whales who come to the salish sea to feed on ghost shrimp. A southern resident orca whale swims in puget sound in view of. In addition to orcas, see the other wildlife that we view. Find more onshore whale watching spots in the region at the orca networks whale sighting viewpoints map. Washingtons 20192020 fishing regulations now available. Increasing in frequency every year, whales returning to the waters off of tacoma is becoming more and more common. Additionally, the legislature this year approved new boating regulations meant to protect endangered southern resident killer whales. Port townsend 4hour whale watching tour puget sound express. Kayakers are disturbing puget sound orcas new study finds.
We head out towards the san juan islands, or to wherever the whales are on the red head, our comfortable and fast, 40seat tour boat. Below is key information on tentative 202021 salmon and steelhead fisheries in washington waters. In addition, covid19 remains a factor going into the. Identifies actions most likely to be implemented and have a beneficial impact on southern resident killer whales. Go whale watching at point defiance southsoundtalk. March 8, 2019 1502 city and port of edmonds officials were on hand to help the hanke family launch the 2019 whale. Washington states best whale watching value and best spot north of seattle to see gray whales in the wild. Recent whale sightings in the salish sea puget sound, northwest straits, gulf islands and georgia strait note. In recent years, march may and october november, have had similar sighting success. Could gray whales return to puget sound yearround in. Tours require a minimum of 15 passengers for departure. My dates are flexible but i would prefer to go in april.
Season summaries and agreed fisheries for the 202021 seasons will be posted as they become available. When is the best time for port angeles whale watching. All boaters must stay 400 yards away when in front of or behind orcas, and 300 yards away at all other times. From march to may, you can also hop on one of the whale watching tours from everett to spot majestic gray whales. Puget sound whale watchers accused of loving endangered.
These days, the boats almost exclusively focus on whale. Puget sound express launches 5th season of edmondsbased whale watching posted. Help washington state ferries track whales in puget sound with. Drawing from the closely aligned puget sound action agenda, the contaminants group. Also known as killer whales, orcas are playful, intelligent and social animals. Yet, each year, our corner of wilderness along the puget sound has dozens of whale sightings. Southern resident orcas are seen yearround, but most of the whales in the area are just passing through. The whales of puget sound whidbey and camano islands. The weather was spectacular and seas were amazingly flat and calm. The public can download the whalereport app and report sightings to commercial mariners within 10 nautical miles of the whales to help avoid. Anyone can do that by downloading the whale report app on a. Puget sound waterfront owners asked to house dead whales.
The best orca whale watching is from friday harbor, san juan island, just an easy day trip adventure from downtown seattle. Whale watchers accused of loving endangered orcas to death. Puget sound whale watching tours puget sound whale. More than 500,000 people annually go whale watching in the waters of washington and british. The question of whether boatbased watching tours are really harmless has become more urgent in washington state, where southern. However, to really enjoy port angeles whale watching, you will want to go on a whale watching tour to venture further out into their sheltered habitats of the salish sea and the san juan islands. Whale watching from land whidbey and camano islands. The center for whale research says that as of friday. June 8, 2018 wdfw announces puget sound recreational crab seasons for the summer the washington department of fish and wildlife wdfw today announced puget sound summer crabfishing seasons, which get underway june 16 with an opening in two marine areas.
Family activity center at the seattle aquarium to learn more. Mammaleating orca whales biggs or transient orcas best time to view. The familyowned company also offers tours from port townsend and langley, whidbey island. Kayakers too often come too close to the critically endangered pods of whales known as southern residents in puget sound. Puget sound whale watching adventures in washington. These gray whales referred to as sounders were spotted swimming around north puget sound. Seattle new technology could help ships and ferries navigate around. Explore puget sound and the san juan islands no other place on the planet gives you the opportunity to experience orca, grey and humpback whales in the wild, observe bald eagles perched in their nest, or look down at seals as they forage for food, all while being surrounded by snow capped mountains, lush trees, and pristine water. The san juan islands draws more whale watchers, but the orca whales are seen all along the coast of washington as well as in and around the san juan islands and the puget sound, part of the salish sea. We caught up with 4 of the 12 local gray whales that return to our waters every march. This past weekend marks the start of the gray whale migration to puget sound.
Orcas can be spotted just about year round, but are most common in the spring and summer. Orca task force washington state department of ecology. How a generation of killer whales was taken from puget sound. While plenty of commercial tours will charter you around the sound, whale watching does not always require a boat. Read on to find out how you can help, and come visit us at the puget sound orcas. With cold water and plenty of prey like salmon to feed on, puget sound is the goto place for whale watching, meaning seattleites dont have to travel far to get a glimpse of these majestic mammals that call the sound their home. While it is possible to see whales at any time of the year, there is a peak season from may through october. They feed primarily on marine mammals such as seals and sea lions but will also form large temporary pods in order to attack other species of whales like the gray or minke. In the past six months, tacoma residents who know what to look for out in the murky waters have seen a pod of orcas and a few humpback whales from a couple of locations in point defiance. Puget sound express operates whale watching tours from edmonds marina beginning mar. Puget sound waters teem with wildlife that attracts these mammals close to the shore. Our whale watching tours have been very successful, with sightings of transient orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, and a few gray whales so far.
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