Hoghunter,
Do your homework! Transcient pods are migratory pods that can eat just about anything -especially sea mammals. They are like the gypsy's of the killer whale clans. They're dorsal fins are slightly different on average. They spend so much time "cruisin" like ships they're fins tend to be more streamlined than our local resident orca pods. Local pods you'll notice have erect upright dorsal fins. Have you ever watched footage of the killer whales in Argentina? Well, Killer whales are cabable of doing just that -eating sea lions/seals at will. Your right about the local pods and neighboring pods they generally tend to eat salmon and other fish in our near shore/inland waters. Transcients are known and can migrate from Mexico/Baja Penninsula up to the Bering Sea depending upon available food, and ocean temperatures. Did you ever see the footage of the orcas eating the gray whale carcas off the California coast? -Pretty amazing stuff!
My two cents$ worth!
Good Fishing, Darin