Pod of Orcas off Pt Defiance Puget Sound

[Bob & Sue]

We were at the North end of Maury Island Sunday heard on the VHF that there was a pod of Orcas off Browns Point we started heading back that way and caught up to them by Pt. Defiance they had Dept of Wildlife following them. The one day I don't bring a good camera. We just floated about 200 yards from them for about 20 minutes there were about 7-10 in the pod.

 

[Pyrojodge]

That is sweet... all I get is a bunch of sheep head (fresh water drum)... looks like a great day on the water... thanks for sharing with us!

 

[Nehalennia]

Nice pics Bob and Sue.

 

[BritLady]

Thanks for sharing, great pics! Brought make many memories of when we lived in the Seattle region, such beautiful scenery in that whole area

Brenda & Noel

 

[wvsundancer]

WOW thanks for the post.. best I could do is post up some pics of the two 4 foot long carp that hang around our fuel dock

 

[Woody]

I assume they are always aware of a boats location but do they get close? Is there a risk of bumping them or dinging them with props?

 

[Bob & Sue]

I assume they are always aware of a boats location but do they get close? Is there a risk of bumping them or dinging them with props?

Yeah there is a stiff penalty for getting to close or even have your prop rotating near them. If your floating to view them they will surface right next to your boat. I have spoke with several folks that have had them surface facing them and looked right in their boat. We also have the large Gray Whales up about 40 miles north of me right now been talking about going up to look at them.

In an effort to improve boater behavior around the southern residents, the Washington Legislature passed a law (RCW 77.15.740) in 2008 placing legal restrictions on the activities of vessels near the whales. It is now unlawful to:

Marine enforcement officers from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have enforced the law since its inception Violation of the law is a civil infraction that carries penalties of up to $1,025.

• Approach within 300 feet of a southern resident whale;
• Cause a vessel or other object to approach within 300 feet of a southern resident whale. Vessels are defined as including aircraft, canoes, fishing vessels, kayaks, personal watercraft, rafts, recreational vessels, tour boats, whale watching boats, vessels engaged in whale watching activities, or other small craft including power boats and sailboats;
• Intercept a southern resident whale. Interception is defined as when a person places a vessel or allows a vessel to remain in the path of a whale and the whale approaches within 300 feet of that vessel;
• Fail to disengage the transmission of a vessel that is within 300 feet of a southern resident whale, for which the vessel operator is strictly liable; or
• Feed a southern resident whale.