Wind is especially hard on your braided fishing line, which will take a lot of abuse as you try to land that fish. Don’t go too far out into rough waters and you should be able to keep your pole afloat even in 25mph winds.
Since the open ocean is unprotected from strong winds, the water will be choppy as soon as wind picks up. Sportfishing boats are large enough to handle this, but the additional fuel needed to fend off strong winds is a price to pay.
According to the National Weather Service, wind speeds between 7 and 10 miles per hour are ideal for recreational fishing. You’ll catch fish while still having a pleasant experience on your day out.
Consider the size of your boat, but as a rule of thumb, anything above three feet of water with gusts of 20 to 25 knots is unsafe for fishing. You don't want your boat to capsize.
If there is a wind speed of at least 15 mph, you may want to put that fishing line away until another day. You might be surprised just how easy it can be for winds to blow your inflatable boat back into shore or make casting next to impossible.