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First, "over-loading" a rod and "over-lining" a rod are two different things entirely. You want to be able to load your rod with one or two falsecasts and deliver the fly. Bad things happen to flies when they spend too much time in the air. All of my rods 7 wt and higher are not rated properly. I have found, through usage, that they need to be over-lined by 1-3 line weights to cast properly to suit my casting style and use. If possible, try several lines on your rod to tune it to your liking. I am not in general making short casts as on a small stream unless the situation requires it. There have been times that I have had to back up to present my fly but in most cases the fish require casts of 60 feet or more or will be out of range entirely. The big difference between fresh and salt is the fish are free to go anywhere they desire in the salt. You will need to put yourself within range of the fish. Second, get or make yourself a stripping basket. In my opinion they are necessary, especially if you fish in a rocky environment. Last, consider joining a fishing club. Your learning curve will increase dramatically. I don't know where you are located but your 8 wt should be fine for most areas from shore unless you want to tackle the outer cape beaches and such. In the next couple of months there should be plenty of schoolies in an estuary near you to practice on. They are great places to learn and it is not unlike trout fishing. Learning about tidal influences is the key to success.
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