Brother, I hear ya.
I bought a Bay 190 to start saltwater flyfishing but find myself heading offshore for trolling lately. I started kayak fishing in lakes and have found it to be more productive than fishing out of a boat...in fresh water. Gonna start back flyfishing more this year in the salt.....but...I have learned this.
Use conventional tackle to find and catch fish....flyfish when you want to play with them or you have caught your limit!
Start with a speckle trout spin cast rod and reel with 10lb clear line. Use DOA plastic shrimp, cut bait, live shrimp on a "popper" bobber, etc.
You can add 10" of 30lb ss wire leader and use it to catch spanish mackrel right off the beach, or sheephead using sandfleas or clams/muscles off the jetties. Everything eats shrimp.
Troll close in till you get the hang of any inlets and passes and get comfortable with your gps and vhf radio. Troll 2 lines until you want more.
Start there with 20-30lb line trolling reels with softer tipped 6' rods. You can use these for kings, dolphin and spanish as well as reds or anything else.
I would start with a box of frozen cigar minnows and a king leader set up or use any of the variety of lures like BillyBait, C&H chuggers and skirts. I like Mahi colors or white or silver flash. Also try the Mann's Stretch 30's lures in various colors. The Gulf is full of toothy fish so keep a bit of wire on the end.
For bottom fishing, a 4/0 to 6/0 size reel will handle most, the new Torque series of reels that handle braid are real popular right now....although the braid may cost you as much as the reel!
Get you a few subscriptions to SPORT FISHING MAG, SALTWATER SPORTSMAN AND FLORIDA SPORTSMAN and you will be armed and tackled to the max soon. Fl Sportsman has a good and inexpensive DVD series on bottom fishing and trolling on their website. Also pick up their book on tackle and rigging.
I like Trilene Big Game line and respool yearly and cheaply. I use PENN as that is what I grew up with and all the old salts used and have plenty of parts and upgrades availble. You can get rod and reel combos cheaply at BoatersWorld.com as well as other places. Avet reels have had my attention lately though. Just like your fly rod and reel.....you can spend thousands on a set up or $100, they both will catch fish and both must be maintained properly.
Think about how you need to anchor off a reef and fish back onto it and maybe buy an inexpensive drift anchor or two and enjoy them vs trolling motors. Offshore is nice and comfortable June thru Sept so you got plenty of time to research what you want. Everyone does things a little different, only you can decide what works for you.
PS and talk with the guys at the bait and tackle shop just like flyfishing, it can save you lots of trial and error time.
Good Luck,
Molar