North Whidbey Fire and Rescue responded to two boats that ran aground Monday afternoon on the north end of Whidbey Island.

A 40-foot boat ran aground on rocks near Deception Pass and later that afternoon, another craft got stuck north of Strawberry Point.

Rescuers waited near the boats to make sure everyone on board was OK and neither vessel was taking on water, said Deputy Chief Mike Brown. U.S. Coast Guard had issued a warning to boats in the Deception Pass area to keeps speed low so the boat hung up on the rocks wasn’t damaged.

Both boats were freed by the high tide.

Brown didn’t know the particular plans of these boat owners but he noted that there are more boats in local waters because it’s crabbing season.

“There may be people out there who don’t know the area as well and are running into shallow waters,” he said.