Here on Cape Cod most guys fish a 9. It's my choice - more pleasant to cast than heavier lines, and enough backbone to land big fish. You will want a floating line for fishing the surf, as an intermediate is too difficult to control in crashing waves. Intermediate line is perfect if you will be fishing bays and from a boat. You might also consider a hi-d sinking line to get a fly really deep when boat fishing and the cows are hugging the bottom. Tight lines, Alec