Southern Resident J Pod Orcas near Friday Harbor and T49C and T49A2 in Lopez Sound

April 5, 2023 – After casting off from Friday Harbor about 11am we headed north based on a report of orcas southbound from Jones Island. Winds were blustery from the south so we went to second reef on the main sail and then started scanning for blows. We could see two groups further up the channel just south of Yellow Island socializing and some individuals traveling southbound close to Point Caution. We were thinking they resembled Southern Resident orcas by the spread and their behaviour. Shortly after it was confirmed by friends on shore after a close pass by several individuals that it was J pod.

Sailing across the channel we made our way closer to the bay on the west side of Shaw Island to allow them to pass before continuing our trip down the coast of Shaw Island. A bald eagle was sitting in its nest again and harbor seals were hauled out on the rocks in Hicks Bay. In the distance south of Turn Rock we could see the blows and some of the male orca fins as they worked their way south in San Juan Channel.

We changed course to Upright Channel to see other orcas reported westbound in Thatcher Pass. Another bald eagle was perched in his/her nest at Upright Head near the Lopez Ferry Landing. It’s been years since we’ve seen an eagle in that nest.

As we arrived to see the other orcas we saw that it was Biggs/Transient orcas known as T49C and T49A2 (uncle and nephew) who have been hanging around the area for quite some time now. They especially like taking the scenic route through the inter-islands and today they made their way all the way to the bottom of Lopez Sound before turning back north. The pair seemed a bit sleepy as they meandered slowly north, As we sailed downwind we were too fast compared to the orcas’ speed, so we reduced sail to third reef so we could sail parallel to them. After we departed the pair exited Thatcher Pass and turned southeast.

We made tracks back to Friday Harbor with a fun sail while our passengers enjoyed taking the helm. We heard that J pod was tread milling in Cattle Pass for hours against the flood tide. They took the shallow narrow channel inside of Goose Island before being pushed back and eventually making it out on the Lopez side later the day about 5:30pm.