Ok, I say go the $200 route.
I'm faced with similar obstacles where I fish in SC. 30+ miles to bottom fish, 40 - 60 miles for grouper, snapper, wahoo, dolphin, billfish etc. except we do see sails in close sometimes. And the grouper, snappers, bsb move in closer in the colder weather - just as they're closing the season on them......
We go to Hatteras once per year. Weather is always hit or miss but we make it out a day or two. Nice to only have to run 20 miles to be in the gulfstream.