new to SW FF

[Emmet]

I've got some experience fly fishing for 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 flat 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 Mackrel. Any helpful suggestions or local resources would be greatly appreciated.
Any gear recommendations should bear in mind that my property taxes 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.
:-%

[saltydancindave]

Check out deleted & click on the Florida Fish-Ins. 3 years of info for the area. The #8 weight is probably the best rod for all around saltwater use on the Gulf.

[Emmet]

Thanks; the fly recommendations pretty much echo what I've read elsewhere. Pity I didn't start this last year; the 2005 Fish-In was in Dunedin, only 5 miles north of me. The Dunedin Causeway and Honeymoon Island are very high on my list of places to wade.
:-%

[captchuckmac]

Emmit:
Welcome to ReelTime!

I think you will find that any 8-9wt combo will will perfectly well for what species you are after......
I hear ya on the taxes gig--everybody in Pinellas County is getting whacked!
Just make sure you sign up for the save our homes program--it will cap your taxes at no more than 3% per year.