Hi, RI Rock!
No, if you're boat- fishing, & can ease up on the smooth drag of a conventional reel-- & take your time & ease fighting w/ a cow-- then the Octopus' are good to go! BUT: if you're fishing a rel. tight drag because you're in a rocky surf- spot, & muscling with beefy gear 40+ lbers. in fear of them getting their head down & into the rocks scant feet below the take... then yes, the Octopus' will be in grave danger of opening up in that scenario! Strength counts from rocky surf spots like Montauk or Point J., really more than anything else, in ALL your terminal & other gear. (I wouldn't fish a "fishy" plug at these spots, if it wasn't also industrial- strength in every- way!)...
I have a (modest) boat too, so I'm not anti- boat. But to me, gear/ tackle- wise, boat fishing is "easy," compared to what's necessary in the craggiest surf spots for us crazy wader- clad nocturnal trophy- hunters! (Who re- live their lost very big fish way too many times, whenever it occurs!
