If you don't have confidence in your equipment you should not be out there.

That's my rule of thumb.

let me tell about a small boat adventure.....
we lanched a 10' livingston from brown's point, it's across the water on the tacoma side from where you are talking about, after work(3rd shifters) one morning in december.well the fishing was slow, the sun was warm and we both woke up on top of a 3-4 foot wave looking up at the tacoma narrows bridge. it was a long run back home we had to stop for gas at the marine. but we survied.

we took that boat out in all kinds of weather and once in a while we needed to bail it out but we had a lot of fun. our ruffest day was at point no point in 35 knot winds. the best part of a small boat is if it gets to bad you can beach it and call a friend to come pick you up.

Try it you'll like it!!

We fish a 14ft aluminum boat everywhere in the sound and strait. It has a 25hores moter though. Just don't get caught in the current around the Narrows and you will be fine.

Just watch the weather and tide forecast and you won't have any problems. In a smaller boat you have to be vigilant for boat wakes from Howard Hughes and his 80' yacht and changes in weather, but I wouldn't hesitate to fish the Pt D area in a 12 footer on most days.

The mistake guys make is they get their mind set that they're going to fish Pt. D. on Sunday and then they're not smart enough to call it off if the weather or tides dictate. If you have a small boat, you gotta let the weather decide for you.

Check the weather
Check the tides
Keep your eye out for boat wakes
Don't go around the corner toward the bridge
Wear a PFD
Have Fun

maybe you should try mooching a dart or a herring off the clay bank at pt defiance. there is a cave in the cliff just before the tip of the point. i have done best there mooching in 30 th 50 maybe 60 feet of water. downriggers work better after the tide has changed but that's not your best option off of a 12ft aluminum. one hour before tide change to one hour after. 12 ft is ok in the sound. also, try launching at mcallister creek and running to the mouth of the nisqually to jig a pt. wilson dart (green) at the "green can" bouy. when the pt. getts hot then it is time to run out of totem marine or the pt defiance launch to the mouth of the puyallup. always best for the first hour of light trolling a five or six ounce with a cut plug. try to get a larger boat with a new motor so you can start fishing the mouth of the columbia. don't forget to W-D!!!

you say you never said you were a salt fisherman that it is all foreign to you then i would suggest that you go with someone else that knows whats going on and learn a few things before you hit the salt whether it be in a 12 footer or 20 footer your a teacher i think you already knew the answer to your question i worked on the water for quite a few years don't anymore but a person couldn't imagine the stupidity some get away with well maybe they could all they need to do is read an earlier reply to your post be safe and enjoy yourself

Piece of cake...

I'd do it, just don't go west of the Clay Banks...

I grew up out there in a 12fter...

Only swamped it once

easy limits your a trooper, 12 ft boat with a trolling motor and pt D, YA

Thanks for the help. Contrary to many opinions, I'm gonna sit this one out this summer (for now). The whole tide/rip/wake thing is not worth screwing around with for salt rookie like myself. I have been out @ point D. twice with a buddy that has a 16 ft. alaskan. Each time I was out the water was glassy. I didn't realize that it got that choppy out there. I really appreciate the advice. Next Sunday I'll be @ the launch talking to guys with similar boats to actually SEE first hand what I may be getting myself into. It's possible that I may give it a shot but thanks to the replies I'm going to hold off for a while.
Cuttie

I always thought that the Pt Defiance area was considered a classic small boat fishery. I don't think that the boat house there (where all the old farts have fished out-of since the beginning of time) can even handle a boat over 16'

Come to think of it, didn't the old boat house rent row boats for fishing?

Hey Cuttie, if you're going to be there, you may as well jump in with us! We're in a 20' bayliner, leaving Olympia or actually Tumwater around 4 am or so. The tides won't be so bad as they were last weekend, but you will still get an idea. Let me know, or send me an email if you're interested.

Steve in Oly

I am with easy limits.I fish a 12' highlaker in the salt all the time but then again I used to deckhand up in the Berring sea.Put the boat into some smaller water and build some confidence and learn how the boat behaves in differant situations.Those cuurents and rips can do screwy things with smaller boats under power!

I wish I could post some pics of us up off the Aleautians screwing around in a 16' in fifteen foot seas!Friend had a high quality video camera and got some great footage.We would launch of the crest and free fall into the trough!On the other side of the island the wind was blowing over 120 miles an hour!