Just wondering what would be a sensible size boat for heading out to Nile Head during the winter? Assuming that trips are planed around good forecasts but taking in account the unpredictability of the weather.

edit:

Also during the nor-west winds is the visibility better on one side of Port Underwood then the other. Until recently I only dived from the shore, and since getting my Kayak I only used it for diving twice. So is the North side any better for visibility?

True, I know how unpredictable the weather in outer Sounds can be. We use to frequently fish Port Gore in my parents 5.8m Naiad. One strange weather event was on a nice bright sunny day when low sea fog quickly engulfed the entire area. The trip back around Cape Jackson was a slow one. Port Gore is quite a dangerous place to fish because it can remain calm inside the port itself while the sea roughs up around Cape Jackson.  

I would be keen to go on a few trips out there with you, mainly to get a feel for the area. The nearest I been was on a charter boat which went to Rangototo Island. During the Summer I sometime paddle across to D'urville Peninsula from French pass but that side is a bit more sheltered.  Going to circumnavigate the whole island sooner rather then later. Just need a more capabel kayak. 

Water temp ranged from 16.6 to 17.7 Celsius. How hot does it get in Tasman bay during the summer?

Got up at 4am this morning to fish dawn, spent 30 minutes driving, realised I did not pack my reels last night. Drove home and went back to bed, spent a few hours fly fishing spring creek in the afternoon.

edit: Spent a hour or so surfcasting in the Mahua sounds friday night. Sea was brown with heaps of pine needles and other crap washed down a nearby stream after the recent heavy rain. Just did not feel right so left early.