I live in Eureka -- right on tthe north coast. I wouldn't begin to think about going out in the ocean in an 8 ft. boat---- unless you have a death wish. If you are going to be fly fishing out of it, you will probablyhave the urge to stand up and that means falling out. They fish old guys out of the surf every year up here because someone went out in their 10 ft. or 12 foot boat and either capsized or fell out. Up here -- and it is the same anywhere on the north coast, you have maybe 20 minutes of survival time once you hit the water and start to get hypothermia--- 20 minutes and thats it. So, if you want to become crab bait, go ahead and try the small boat.

If you want to learn how to fish out of a kayak, then you might be a little safer but the key is knowing what you are doing. There is a place up here call HUMBOATS that sells and takes people fishing in Kayaks and they might b e able to give you some good information. They are in the phone book.

Bottom line, be safe and stay out of the ocean or off the near coast in that 8 footer.