How do you know your ready!

[GregAndrew]

LJ is usually about as close to bay fishing as you are going to get in the open ocean.
You are ready when:
You have all the right safety gear.
You know how to upright and reenter your loaded kayak.
You no longer need to take all boat wakes head on.
And you feel comfortable in your yak.

And then, work your way up through higher swells and wind speeds gradually.