Whale's Tail Charters

We had such a great time on our morning trip with Matt. One, you can’t beat the beauty of the North Shore. Two, we heard those reels go off over and over and ended up with a handful of Mahi Mahi - enough to take home to feed the house! The boat is small but personable and comfortable. We appreciated the hands on approach and will definitely be reaching back out on our next trip to O’ahu. Mahalos Matt!

Amazing morning spent with Captain Gary onboard his zodiac boat on the 10am tour. We followed the directions provided and easily met Captain Gary at the dock. The boat was comfortable and only held 6 people. With the smaller boat size, it truly felt like a personal tour. Captain Gary was extremely knowledgeable and quickly found whales. The 1.5 hour tour we saw whale after whale after whale! Captain Gary was exceptional. He shared information about the whales eating patterns, skin markings, migration patterns, and blowhole smells. We saw seals and a sea lion too. It was a fantastic way to kick off our Oregon vacation. Highly recommend Whale's Tail Charters!

Great tour!!!! Our captain was so nice and engaging. Answered all of our questions and explained things the whales do and why. One of the whales came right up against the boat under the water. Would absolutely go again.

Captain Gary was fantastic! He shared so must information during our trip about the whales, their migration, their patterns, and answered all our questions. We were able to see so many whales and they were very close to our boat! We did the 1.5 hour trip and it was perfect. Definitely recommend bundling up with a heavy jacket, beanie, and gloves! I will also say, Whale’s Tail Charters was the first company out searching for whales and other company’s were asking Captain Gary for help locating them, and they showed up much later when the water was very rocky and the whales were not very visible. Go during the morning! 10am trip!

I am from NC and have always wanted ro see the whales. I was taken to Whale Tails. Our Captain Gary was very amazing. He had so much knowledge about whales and took us out on a pontoon ride. We saw so many whales. He knew how to guide the boat to the whales and directed our attention to what the whale was doing and where to look to see them. It was a wonderful tour and im so happy. I would recommend Whale Tail tours and I hope you get Captain Gary!

Captain Gary was great. Got us out seen sea lions, whales and jellyfish. We spent about 70 minutes on the whales which was wonderful. Gary was very informative and happy to answer question. The zodiac boat experience was incredible and the smaller boat experience in my opinion is the only way to go. Not alot of people trying to get shots or in way like some of the big boat experiences we have had.

Captain Laird was an excellent guide- very knowledgeable and easygoing. We saw two different whales as well as harbor seals and a sea lion! He told us a lot about the history of Depoe Bay as well as lots of whale facts! Will definitely be back anytime we visit the area!!

We had a great time and saw many whales. Our captain, Gary, was awesome. He pointed out a lot of interesting things and had a lot of interesting information to impart, but he also didn't talk too much, which was nice. This can sometimes be a problem with tours and guides, but Gary did a great job of letting us be in the moment and have our own experience. He knew where to go and and was a very good navigator. The small boat was nice as there were only 6 of us and you are right at water level. A bigger boat would obviously give a different perspective being up higher (and with a LOT of people), but I liked being at the whale level with just a few people. Booking and payment was a little wonky, but I was able to talk to someone in the office when they opened in the morning and got it straightened out. Overall great experience that I highly recommend. We went with the 1.5 tour which I would also recommend over the 1 hour tour. We ended up going all the way down to Devil's Punchbowl which was nice because we were the only boat down there. When we went back to the Depot Bay area, there were a lot of other tour boats which was a lesser experience because of it.

Gary was our captain and he knew his stuff! We saw so many whales it was incredible. Absolute best part of our vacation. Just a reminder - tip your guides! They deserve it. We will be back!

This was so fun! The guy that took us out was good at keeping us updated on what he saw. He reminded me of my grandpa, blunt and hard working!

Silly me worrying that we wouldn't see any grey whales. We actually heard them before turning in awe to see these giants swimming amongst us. Our guide Gary got everyone all safetied up and vested. The boat was a kickass Zodiac that was nimble and stable as we passed sunbathing seals on our way out of narrow Depoe Bay harbor and into the Pacific. We motored just a short bit before we were trolling and watching whales feeding in the kelp beds. It was an amazing experience. I could be greedy and wish for a full breach. But, really everything after you see that first whale is all gravy. Sometimes life just comes up all Milhouse for you. Whales all day, tip your Captain

Amazing experience! Must have seen 10 whales. The zodiacs make it so much fun! They were able to easily maneuver to give everyone great views. Highly recommend!

Y'all, this trip was so much fun. The vessel is intimate and close to the water, which makes the experience all the more special. The captain was so friendly, he was extremely knowledgeable, and always made sure we were comfortable and could see the whales. Despite my getting terribly seasick and throwing up at least 3x, he didn't bat an eye and actually apologized to me that I was not feeling well. The captain could not have been sweeter. We also saw some baby seals/sea lions! You can hear the dialogue between your vessel and the other ones out there, which is very humorous and enjoyable. Will definitely go again! Maybe, just with some Dramamine next time. ​

Loved this. Our guide was great and entertaining. We saw some whales, non breached but it was the wrong season. Super fun and affordable.

Whale's Tail Charters made our trip to Oregon even more special! What a fun group activity! So glad we reserved this tour in advance! Our captain, Laird, did a fabulous job finding multiple whales and showing us the coastline. It was the perfect way to enjoy an afternoon along the Oregon coast! Laird was entertaining, informative, and fun! While there are no guarantees that you'll see whales, being able to motor around the coast and take in the scenery can be just as enjoyable. The sea lions were also fun to watch. The ocean can be a little choppy, depending on the weather, so this may not be for everyone. We didn't mind a few bumps, but it could have been a lot rougher if the winds had picked up. We were dressed appropriately, with windbreakers, fleeces, and tennis shoes, so everyone was comfortable. Be sure to check the forecast a few days beforehand, as you are able to cancel up to 24 hours in advance if you need to. Hopefully, you'll be up for the tour, as it was so memorable! It was much more adventurous touring in a smaller, more intimate boat and the waves were even fun to navigate.

Booked a few months in advance for an afternoon tour and hoping to see some whales. Got to the dock a bit early and was Instantly greeted with friendly charm. Couldn't ask for a better captain/ tour guide. He was packed with knowledge and made it fun. He knew what he was doing and instantly found whales. Loved the ride and the kindness of the captain.

Their sandwich with its expertly fried easy over egg, large slabs of bacon, arugula, and heirloom tomatoes, and unique homemade sauce, is a higher category, so deserves a better description than Breakfast BLT The service is friendly

Easy to book, friendly and informative. A great experience all around. Saw several gray whales, sea lions, jellyfish etc and learned a ton about marine life!

We've been whale watching with Captain Gary for over ten years now. We've never been disappointed. His knowledge and expertise is beyond compare. The zodiacs are by far the best boat for whale watching! They are not crowded (6-8 people), they are low in the water, they don't rock like fishing boats. Our family looks forward to this every year! A+ quality adventure!

Whale watching is a must if you are traveling along the Oregon Coast. We chose Whale's Tail Charters and thoroughly enjoyed it. We selected 10AM and arrived 30 minutes early per the instructions so we were able to go ahead and head out since everyone was there. The boat was smaller and only 2 other people were in our party which we really liked. Gary was very informative. We loved that we were able to get out before other tour companies to see all of the whales and also to see so many whales.

We had such a great experience with Gary as our guide. We had no idea if we'd actually see a whale when we began our drive to the dock, but we were so pleasantly surprised to see a grey whale multiple times and up close! Gary was extremely knowledgeable and being on a small boat was such a great decision, providing us with a fantastic family memory. Highly recommend going with Whale's Tail!

What a GREAT excursion. Captain Gary was very professional and knowledgeable So glad we picked the small boat as compared to the 30 or 40 passenger ones Everyone had an opportunity to see the whales up close and personal Will do again when in Depoe Bay

I booked a whale watching trip several weeks ago and received the confirmation emails. I neglected to open the email until the day of the trip. Somehow I booked this trip thinking it was in Florence, Or where we are traveling to today. Unfortunately, we are unable to make it to Depoe Bay by the time of the whale watching trip. I called and Kip was very nice but said it was outside of his 24 hour cancellation period. I sort of pleaded with him and he did end up refunding my money. We are super disappointed that we are missing this trip and will keep it in mind next time we are in the area. Thank you for being so understanding.

I've been here twice in the last two years and I absolutely love whale watching with this place. Soooo knowledgeable and friendly! We saw plenty of whales both them (which is never a guarantee). The gentleman taking my family and I around was the absolute sweetest guy. He had so much patience with my kids and answering all their questions, I should say all my husbands questions too. I believe his name was Larry! You absolutely MUST come whale watching here if you're anywhere near Depoe Bay.

When arriving at the docks the company had two boats ready to go and we were told we could hope on either one. We ended up in the WRONG boat. I could tell that, collectively, the boat operators know what they're doing and know all the best spots to see whales breaching. HOWEVER, we ended up in a boat captained by an older guy who kept talking about how we couldn't get closer to the whales but that they could come up to us and how previous customer had gotten great photos that way. EXCEPT every time a whale started to come closer to us he would start the engine and drive AWAY from the whales. I ended up getting better views of whales from the shore. A total waste of time and money! I've waited 7 months to post this and I'm still mad when I think about it.

Had a great time! Was able to see a whale and the entire experience was both simple and fun. I'd definitely recommend.

Count my wife and I as two more happy customers! This was. first time expedience for both of us and it blew away any expectations either of us had prior. Capt. Gary is incredible nice and knowledgeable and he even waited for us as we were a few minutes late due to traffic. Highly recommend this as a part of your trip to the coast!

Thank you to our captain today as he patiently searched for whales and made sure we all got pictures we wanted. I love doing this in the smaller Zodiac boat! It was such a fun trip, we found whales several times, saw beautiful sea lions and were entertained with stories and great conversation! If you are looking for a very personal experience then this is the whale watching trip you must take!

Guys, it doesn't get better than this. You're only out there for an hour OR an hour and a half but it's SO much fun and it's worth every penny; which while we're at it, you can't argue with the pricing! It's a small charter and my friends and I happened to book an outing with Gary and we were the only ones. It was very informative and Gary is the best! He doesn't just drive the zodiac; he includes you in conversations and has a lot of stories to tell! He's very nice and he brings his dog Missy on the zodiac with him and what's better than seeing whales and hanging out with a dog for 1 + hour? Nothing is. ONLY downside is the short times out on the water. Once you're out there, you don't want to come back but that's my only complaint and I will definitely be back to use WTC again!

Loved the experience from start to finish. Captain Gary was super kind, very informative and even had his cool dog Missy with him. He made sure we got our monies worth and was very patient and friendly! Thank you again we had a blast!

We loved this charter To start off we goofed and thought our charter was on Tuesday not Monday. 15 minutes before the charter was to leave captain Gary called to see if we were coming. We were 30 minutes away eating breakfast. He allowed us to reschedule. We went out longer than the 1 1/2 time we had paid for. Other charters were turning and leaving but at that moment the whales were really showing themselves. Captain Gary stayed and let us spend additional time watching. He knew his stuff and we learned a lot from him. I would recommend this charter to everyone and if I hear of others coming this way I will encourage them to use Whale' Tale. Thanks captain Gary!! Tammy Haslem

I did not take a tour with this company. I did have a reservation but I had to cancel about 5 days before my reservation. They were extremely prompt and professional in processing my refund right away. It's a good sign as to the quality of their business and I will reschedule in the future when I am able to visit the area again.

Fantastic tour from a very knowledgeable local! We saw numerous whales, several seals, and some porpoises!

My sweetheart and I had the best time with Captain Gary. Even though it was really foggy, with Gary's expert navigation we were able to track a couple of gray whales. Cruising out on the Zodiac made the experience even more fun. They purposely keep the number of passengers to four for social distancing, which we really appreciated. Can't wait to go again!

Great tour. Smaller boat so more up close and personal. Had a great day and saw some whales. I recommend them. I didn't make reservation and other tours were full so was referred here - I called in a panic as I had driven 2 hours to do this and she took my credit card right over phone and told me to head right down to docs - super friendly and accommodating and luckily I jumped on a boat and was out within 10 minutes!!! What luck!

We were lucky and had great weather, We, unfortunately, didn't get to see any whales but just like fishing sometimes you do sometimes you don't, none the less the trip was great we went south out of Depot Bay it was fun to see areas we play at from the water. Clean boat and friendly staff.

Our first whale watch. Gary was our captain. We were in a rubber runabout which put us close to the water so when a whale came up on us blew into the boat as it dove under us it was up close and personal. Great! Jerry found us two whales to watch right away. Fun trip. Nice captain. Can recommend them.

As others have stated, it's perfect for those that like to see gray whales but not fans of a crowded boat. Zodiac is fun, small and maneuverable. They only take a few folks at a time. Life jackets provided. Proprietor and guide Gary is pleasant and knowledgeable but not overly loquacious. He takes his work seriously. Good time and very glad we went.

My family of 4 had so much fun and would absolutely go out again with Whale's Tail Charters. It was only the 4 of us so it was a private tour, so to speak. We saw whales, sea lions, and then my kids requested to "go fast" and the captain obliged. We did the one-hour tour. Really it was perfection, my kids said it was "unforgettable", and I don't have a single negative memory of this event. We went on a Saturday and the parking lot was crowded but we were still able to find parking easily. Someone from the office called us while we were on the way, to give us a heads up about the parking situation (though it wasn't really needed). They were very kind and helpful from start to finish.

We had absolutely amazing experience going out to the ocean to watch whales! I highly recommend this company - (1) due to delayed flight, we had to move the booking to the next day - and WTC accommodated our circumstances with no problem; (2) due to the traffic, we were running late - and the boat was waiting for us at the bay until we got there; (3) we booked 1 hour trip - and there was no rush on the boat captain behalf - we spent a bit more time out in the waters watching such grand creature rolling its back round-and-round in the cove. In addition, we heard amazing stories about the whales nature and habits. If you are visiting this area, such trip is 'a must!' and I can't find better company to do it with! Thank you, Whale's Tail Charters for the magic!

We had a great experience. Saw lots of whales and several were up close. We highly recommend.

This was the best experience. Gary was a great guide. I would most definitely do this again...I would most certainly ask for Gary to be my guide.

Loved our trip with these guys, our guide was very knowledgeable and made sure we got to see some whale. Missy, an adorable little dog, was on with us, since it was my first time on a small boat out in the ocean, the dog helped with my nerves! Thanks Missy and Whale's Tale!

Last week, 6 of us went out with Captain Gary on Whale's Tail charters. He was professional, nice and we saw several whales (and a sea lion). We had an awesome time! I'd highly recommend Whale's Tail charters. When I started to feel sea sick, the captain was very kind and moved the boat to help me feel better. Did I mention we saw several whale sitings?!?

Great price, loads of fun and WHALES!!!! Captain Gary was so great and very patient as we waited for the whales, he sure can spot them. Will surely do this trip again. Saw loads of whales, tales, flippers, wow!

We booked a few days in advance and they called us to let us know that they were in fact going out that day, which was nice (the previous days had been very windy/stormy). We had 5 adults and the price was great for what we were getting. Unfortunately, I'd say our tour guide was not exactly the most friendly and didn't point out too many things along the way. We did not see any whales, which wasn't anybody's fault obviously but somewhat disappointing. Also, completely my body, but I became extremely seasick and threw up about 6 times. If you don't get seasick though I'm sure you will love this tour!

One of a kind unique experience. This is something that my family and I will never forget. Our captain was very friendly and experienced. We got two close up encounters with the whales. I doubt that we will ever experience anything like this again.

My family did our first whale watch, Captain Gary was great at making sure we saw the whales. He was extremely knowledgeable and really made the tour incredible. We did the 90 min tour and it was just perfect and unforgettable. I HIGHLY recommend Whale's Tail Charters.

Didn't see one whale....but the hour out was well worth it. Capt. Brown was a wealth of information and handled the zodiac boat perfectly. We saw local landmarks and sea lions, and great info about the migration of the whales and the "resident" whales. The price is a steal for what you get and we hope to return in the summer for 1 1/2 hour tour in hopes to see some of the local whales who stay in the Bay and we will be asking for Captain Laird Brown.

Highly recommend! Captain Gary's Zodiac handled beautifully in slightly choppy waters - he was in constant communication with other whale watchers and worked to ensure we experienced sightings - everyone was masked. Can't wait to return to Depoe Bay and do this again!

We booked a 90 minute tour for our party of 4 adults and we got way more than our money's worth! We were in the center of 4 whales at one point and one went right under our zodiac. This was a truly amazing awe-inspiring expierence! Our guide, Gary, was friendly and knowledgeable but didn't talk our ears off.

We had the best trip ever . We seen whales everyplace the whole trip . The best part was three together courting . They were all side by side in the water .It was amazing the zodiac was fast and fun . The captain was very experienced and knowledgable. He would stop in a area and the whales we're in the front, back and sides . I highly recommend this company and trip. The registration process was pleasent and fast . The directions we're perfect . This is one experience that you can take off the bucket list . They were so close you could see barnicles on them . A very magestic the trip . We took the 90 minute tour .

I wanted to take my daughter whale watching during our Oregon coast trip for her 10th bday. The communication during booking was great. They called me to reschedule from one day when there was a storm until the next day when the weather was nice. Captains were good and knowledgeable. However, I didn't realize we were going out in a little zodiac with air filled tubes and an outboard to go out into 8 plus high seas. It was scary and brutal for my daughter and I. We did see whales but it was definitely not worth it. We were miserable for the entire time. We had no business going out in that boat with the ocean the way it was. I would never do that again.

Nice tour with friendly guide. Easy to find. Boat left early which was nice with everyone on time .

Can't tell you how terrific this trip was. We did the hour-long ride and saw five resident whales, one incredibly up close! I kept seeing other charters in big boats and large crowds and was so pleased with the choice we'd made! I took a half a Dramamine and was good to go. Also, the folks in the office were wonderful. We had a last minute cancellation from our group and called them to let them know, not expecting a refund, but just as a courtesy. I got a call back half an hour later and they had filled the slot and issued a refund to my credit card. I would love to see what Depoe Bay looks like in migration season! Whale's Tails is the way to go!

It was amazing! Seen graywhales 3times. A very friendly captain and a lot of time on board.

This was my families first time vacationing on the Oregon coast and I wanted it to be memorable. I booked a charter with Whales Tails after reading good reviews. We were beyond pleased. It truly was an unforgettable experience for all of us and my kids (ages 12, 9 and 4) really enjoyed it and we talked about it for hours afterwards. Captain Gary knew so much and answered all of our questions and we saw at least 4 different whales up close and got some great photos. If we ever make it out here to the coast again we will definitely book another charter through Whales Tails. Thanks again!