Forrest, If you are using your own boat its pretty easy. I Hope you are going in the summer because thats the best time to see the orcas, we are talking about orcas right? This time of the year they are more likely to be in the sound and around the seattle area, but they move a lot and can be in tacoma today and port townsend tonight so its hard to find them. They will also run off shore past the straits for a week or more. In the summer they hang around the islands more feeding on salmon as the runs pass thru.
So heres my method for finding the orcas. All the local whale watching boats talk on one channel on the vhf. Last year it was 81 I think but that will change again this year. As they come and go with the tourist they will ask each other where the whales are and you can listen in, DON'T ask your self or they will clam up and go to cell phones or another channel. Sound easy right? No. They talk in code but its a easy one to figure out. They number the beaches, points, bays and other land marks. The good thing is that they slip up and if you know the land marks good you can get one number. Now the numbers run either from north to south or south to north depending on the year. If you can get two numbers , say 5 and 10, then you will know which way the numbers run. Say 5 is kilim point light house and 10 is turn point on stuart island then you can figure out where 8 is. This has worked fairly good for susan and I the last four years and we always (almost) find the whales.
Another good trick to use the first day while you are figuring out the radio and listening in from a good point, some where on the west side of sound juan, is to have a good set of bino's scanning the water. Your not looking for whales but whale boats. Most of the tour boats come out of victoria on vancouver island. So if you are sitting out there waiting and you see a bright yellow or red boats going like hell to the east south of you then you know the whales are on the south east corner of san juan near lopaz all the way up rosario strait. If they are headed north up Haro strait then they are west or north of the islands.
Now for how to act and stay out of trouble with the law and nazis, yes I said nazis. stay one hundred yard away from the whales and go slow if you are moving near them. quite often you can just sit where you are and wait for them to come to you. they will go under your boat and come see what you are sometimes.
Also if you know they are at lime kilim point and the tide is a flood and moving to you at mosquito pass then just wait for them to come to you.They will move in the direction of the tide most of the time but not always. don't get between the whales and another boat. most of the whale boats will be in a line so just fall in at the end of the line and enjoy the show.
I hope this helps because they are a joy to watch. We get on the roof to look at them because they can be all around you leaping and spy hopping. I really enjoy the show.
Now if you are talking about gray whales they will be showing up in the everett area soon. They come here to feed on shrimp every year. Feb to april is the best time I think. They are also fun to watch. Susan is always trying to get a tail shot of them but they know it and dont show their tails when she is around. if you are at the boat show bring a map and I can show you spot for both areas. Everyone should see them at least once and I will always go out of my way to see them.