So, if wildlife viewing is our highest priority, should we initially focus on the central or north coasts? Eventually we hope to experience it all.
After one summer of cruising SE Alaska our observations are:
1. Most humpback whales - Frederick sound along the southern shore of Admiralty Island between Carrol Island and Elliott Island. We saw dozens of humpbacks in this relatively short distance. Some were very close.
2. Second to the most humpback whales - North Sandy Cove in Glacier Bay. We watched humpbacks and sea lions for two days in our anchorage. We were awakened early one morning by the boat rolling from the wake of a breach. Another time a humpback gently bumped our boat. We also heard, but didn't see, wolves in this anchorage. Note: You can purchase fuel in Bartlett Cove.
3. Other places for humpbacks - Sumner Strait near Point Baker, Holkam Bay to the east of Harbor Island, and Seymour Canal.
3. Brown bears - Many anchorages at low tide in the aforementioned ABC Islands. The most we saw were in Windfall Harbor-Admiralty Island (don't waste your time or money going to Pack Creek), and Red Bluff Bay - Baranoff Island.
4. Black Bears - Red Bay on Prince of Wales Island. I'm sure many anchorages on the east coast of Prince of Wales are similar. For some reason we didn't see any on the west coast anchorages.
5. Eagles, Kingfishers, Herrons - everywhere.
6. Orcas - the only Orcas we saw all summer were in Peril Strait. It was a pod heading west bound that passed very close to our east bound boat.
7. Sea Lions - South Marble Island in Glacier Bay. Hundreds of sea lions hang out here.
Hope this helps.