[RidgeRunner]

Reds and trout inshore in a small boat is all that is needed IMPO.

The water is clear as gin, most of the time, the bottom is black as my ex-girlfriends heart. Rocky don't fully do it justice. So unless someone had very recently scratched the algae off that piece of limestone your about to hit you won't see it coming.

Rodney MacRae, sort of a legend in the Homasassa area. (Just south of where your going) Took my bosses Shipoke out of "MacRae's Marina". Rodney insisted on driving as "he knew the river like the back of his hand." 20 minutes out he knocked the lower unit off the new 140 looper. The slow tow of shame back to your marina after just thrashing the lower on your friends boat must have been quite a lot to bear.
I fish that area that time of year. I prefer sneaking up on fish in a couple feet of water and drifting across the flats. Plan still works when the wind is up. If I go with my friend that lives there we always take his jonboat with four larger vessels at our disposal. There is a tool for every job.
Offshore is an option, get a guide if you go there are rocks and ledges but few and far between. If you aren't running to a specific number your wasting your time. Grouper are inshore that time of year but out of season. Combine that with winter tides which run low for that week..
The McKee you got rid of would have been perfect.
You can use my V for free after a $2000 deposit on the lower unit. LOL!
Can you feel the love? V