I want to know from some of you who live in the area. With a 21ft boat how much wind and what direction can be fished comfortably off Rudy I. I want to come down and fish but don't want to be beat to death doing it.

Most wind with a westerly component can be fished with a 20 foot and longer boat. The forecast they give will be for up to 20 miles offhshore and they will give the higher wave heights in their report. Since you can only fish for rock fish up to three miles offshore, you should be okay in winds up to about 18 knots.

I have a 22 foot and this is the criteria I go by. Of course, it's also an individual thing and if you're not comfortable in that kind of wind in your boat then don't go. Boat design does enter into the equation.

Don;t go on any kind of heavy easterly, northerly, or southerly winds.

Go to "fishweather.com" for the best wind/wave condition info. available

I have a 21' boat and there are a few things that I look for before I drag my boat down to Owl's creek for a balmy February striper spree:

E, NE, SE, no more than 10-15kts, 15-20 and things generally start to not be fun anymore.

W, NW, SW, up to 15-20 (and sometimes even 25+ for a W in th right conditions) is usually tolerable.

Having to stay within the 3-mile limit usually allows you to go fishing on a westerly wind for most conditions. Although I have seen a SW wind really suck coming back from Cape henry and a NW wind that was the pits coming back from points south. So it does depend on where you intend to go.

One other trick is that if you know the wind is going to change (and often it does when you are fishing an approaching front) plan your destinations so that the wind is always to your back. Obviously you can't do this very accurately, but if you know a big NE is going to blow in the afternoon then pick a NE destination (off eastern shore) in the AM so, if you have to, you can ride that crappy weather home.

When the winds are below 10 you can pretty much go anywhere, most of the time.

Have Fun.