New to SW FF

[PiobBear]

I've got some experience fly fishing for rainbow trout, including some Alaska salmon, so I've had some pretty big fish on. I'm also a diver, shallow-water sailor, and inveterate beachcomber, so I'm pretty familiar with some of the beach and flats topography around here, and I've seen (or caught) most of the fish around here that are likely to hit a fly. I'm planning to mostly wade, both from the beach and flats I can get to on my 8" draft sailboat (I'm also scheming for a canoe) around Ft. DeSoto, Old Tampa Bay, & St. Joseph's Sound with a cheap 9' WF-8-F, using baitfish, crab, and shrimp imitations, targeting (loosely) snook, redfish, trout, ladyfish, jacks, and Spanish mackerel. Any helpful suggestions or local resources would be greatly appreciated.
Any gear recommendations should bear in mind that my homeowner's insurance just went up 400% while my income dropped by nearly 100%. I'll just have to make do without the extravagantly priced high-tech gold-plated gear the doctors and lawyers seem to fancy, and stick to affordable (often second-hand) businesslike gear that catches fish; it's not a fashion show.
http://home.sprintmail.com/~ejb/guinness.gif

[CSJ]

I have been using an outift from Redington. The Crosswater rod and reel. Not the best I am sure but does just fine for me. The whole outfit consisting of rod, reel, line and everything for under $100. I also have read good things about the Scientific Anglers "ready to fish" combo on a bulletin board where I never thought I would read about a "good, and inexpensive combo" but I haven't tried one myself. I think the whole thing is about $65. Also, I am a fan of TFO rods but they are a little higher than these.

[James Page]

Temple Fork Outfitters ( TFO)makes some decent rods with lifetime warranties, I would put them at the top of the list. If you are only going to buy one rod for saltwater then you need to purchase a 9 wgt not an 8 wgt. A 9 wgt will perform better with larger flies, heavy wind and heavy fish. You never know when you are going to hook something extremely large in the saltwater and the 9 wieght is more versatile.

It's hard to recommend a low end reel, large fish have a habit of creating issues for substandard reels ... make sure you purchase a "large arbor" reel in whatever brand you buy. You need to hold at least 150 yards of backing on your reel, plus the 9 wgt WF line.

Purchasing a reel that you can easily change the spools on is a nice feature, allows you to carry a spare spool with an sinking type line. Waterworks has a new low end reel out, the Velocity which isn't to bad.

Jim