I have fished in that area a fair bit. St. Petersburg is not close to any good freshwater fisheries that I am aware of, but the saltwater fishing is excellent, like world class. He really should start with an outfit that's up to saltwater, even light saltwater.
An 8 weight is great but a 9 wt might be a little better - there are some big fish out there and the winds can be tough. A 10 wt would be overkill, I think. He can have a blast on an 8-wt going after ladyfish or speckled trout on beaches or flats most days, but a 9 wt. opens up some more days and some bigger fish - snook and reds can get big around there, and small tarpon. Fast taper, definitely - a low-to-mid priced rod in most cases won't have too fast a taper for a novice, in my experience. I use the Orvis All-Rounder line, but any similar floating line with an aggressive weight-forward taper for turning over flies in wind would be good.
Tangential to your main request: you might also recommend TPFR alum Jim Kammel, who moved down to that area and is a fishing guide. I've been out with him a couple times and had a lot of fun. If the guy has never fly-fished, Jim might be able to help him get into the sport. He has plenty of patience for newbies, so the boyfriend would learn a lot and have a good time. His website is
http://thecatcherandthefly.com/thecatcherandthefly/ Miles