1 of 3
Whale watching right from the lodge. Sometimes they are so close that they almost hit the docks!
2 of 3
In mid-channel on the way to fish at Calvert Island the whales are often difficult to avoid!
3 of 3
There is nothing more breathtaking than seeing a 40 ft. 30 tonne behemoth breaching.
Rivers Inlet Sportsman's Club News
At the Rivers Inlet Sportsman’s Club often we are asked if guests get the opportunity to see whales when they are fishing. Yes, perhaps we are one of the best locations in the world where you can combine trophy salmon and halibut fishing with whale watching. Most common are sightings of Gray and Humpback Whales with the occasional pod of Orcas passing through. Rivers Inlet is on their migratory path as they make their annual journey north in summer to feed on the sea life that thrives in the rich northern waters. Many of these whales go no further than the central coast at Rivers Inlet, so that’s why we get to see them all season long. In the fall, the Grays & Humpbacks head south to warmer waters to breed and give birth. This return trip is over 15,000 miles and is the longest annual migration of any mammal. So forget Seaworld and come and join us for the ultimate whale watching experience “Rivers Inlet style”. But don’t forget you still have to keep your eye on your rod tip!
Usually, the Humpbacks & Gray whales show up in Rivers Inlet in early July, and sightings typically taper off around the end of August. The whales are spotted offshore of the mouth of Rivers Inlet as well as in the shallow bays where they have followed their feed. Without a doubt, the most spectacular sight is watching them breach. Scientists are still unsure of the exact reason for breaching. Whales seems to breach more when they are in groups suggesting social reasons for this behavior including assertion of dominance, courting or perhaps even warning of danger. A few times in the summer we see a pod of Orcas (Killer Whales) and the occasional random lone Minke Whale but these sightings are much rarer. The easiest way to identify these whales is by their surface profile.