Lots of great information! I just got home from work and figured I would look to see if there were any updates. Wow! I now know what I am doing the rest of the night... Lots of reading to do!

First: thank you to all of you who have answered and giving me information and ideas! What has been offered and provided is of great value, so "thank you" again! You have a great forum here with great members!

To answer some more questions:
I am 42 and I drive a 50 foot viking on the weekends from May through October (It is not mine, I just drive it because the owner does not want to.) I do have my boating safety card issued by the states of New Jersey and Delaware. When we booked the boat, I asked about needing a license, they said I was fine. If I was not confidant in my skills, I would be hesitant, but in this case, I should be okay. Thanks for asking!

We are picking up the boat we are renting at shilshole bay marina in Seattle.


Fishing resume:
It all started by catching bluegills when I was 3 in a local pond, and have done a lot since then. I have fished small mountain streams where a 6" brook is a prize, I have a lake 2 miles away with largemouth, musky and walleye. have caught nearly every species of inshore saltwater gamefish off New Jersey. Offshore I have caught yellowfin, bluefin and longfin tuna both on conventional and the fly. (Largest is a 82 lb yellowfin on a 12 wt.) I have been to NC for the false albacore run and to Wyoming for goldens, grayling, and green river rainbows. In costa rica I caught more yellowfins and a relative of the peacock bass. I even thought of trolling in Venice, but when I told my wife I was going to, she made it clear that it was just not going to happen. While I love to fish the fly, I will use whatever gives me the best chance of getting a new fish. I have never caught any kind of salmon, so if I get one - I will be happy.

As for the whale watching, I am not going to be a run and gunner for them - whether it is allowed or not - which I know it isn't. We are certainly going to be respectful and sensitive to everything we do. To get "the shot" we are also going to rent some high powered zoom lenses for the entire trip, bring a load of memory and our laptops for downloading.

Okay - I have to go do some reading now - I have a lot to do! If anyone else has ideas - feel free to fire them off!

Tight lines...