EncDate:01/10/24 

EncSeq:1

Enc#:98

ObservBegin:01:02 PM

ObservEnd:03:09 PM

Vessel:KCB III

Staff:Dave Ellifrit, Katie Jones

Other Observers:Charli Grimes, Bethany Shimasaki

Pods:J

LocationDescr:Haro Strait

Start Latitude:48 29.53

Start Longitude:123 08.99

End Latitude:48 28.10

End Longitude:123 06.18

 

EncSummary:

Mid-morning, there was a report of J pod coming in the Strait of Juan de Fuca a little southwest of Trial Island. We waited until the whales were in Haro Strait before the team met at Snug Harbor and left in “KCB3” at 1246. We arrived on scene off Hannah Heights at 1302. J pod was very spread out with most of the whales appearing to be foraging. J26 was the first whale we saw, and he was actively chasing a salmon. J53 appeared briefly inshore of J26. J38 showed up from the south and moved inshore towards where J22 was also seen. J26 was seen again, a bit offshore, chasing another salmon. A little further south down the west side, we found J49 actively chasing a salmon of his own. J42 was seen near the rocks on shore near Pile Point. Off the north end of False Bay, we found J37, J59, and J16 milling around. South of them, J47 headed offshore by himself. Off the south end of False Bay, we found J35 and J57 traveling slowly south together. J36 and J46 were also spread out and milling in the general area. We weren’t seeing anything but extremely spread-out whales, south of Eagle Point so we began heading back up island. Off Pile Point, we found J26 again and he was chasing another salmon. We ended the encounter there at 1509 after J26 arched big and went on a long dive.

Photos taken under Federal Permits

NMFS PERMIT: 27038/DFO SARA 388