Fishing on the grop sounds...interesting?
You may have probs with no. 8's as locking shot; unless you crimp them on so tight they weaken your line, there's a fair chance they'll slip when you cast the loaded float, or ping off when you catch. Use a waggler adapter - a "swinger" or one of the Drennan ones, and use the shot as His Grace suggested - if you don't need them all down the line, "park" the surplus just below the float.