where should I start?

I am hoping to get back to salt water fishing if my arthritis will let me. I have a 16 ft.Carolina skiff stick steer that I have only used in fresh water. It is strictly a boat for protected water having a pretty flat bottom. I live about equal distance from St. Marys and Keaton beach and I was wondering which would be the best place for me to learn shallow water fishing. I have had a lot of deep salt water experience back when I had my off shore boat, but this inshore stuff will be a new experience for me. I know about tides and getting stranded, but I Have a lot to learn about this kind of fishing.
I have fished in the GOM a little around Panama
city, Fl and enjoy catching the Spanish and the Lady fish and the blue runners - I mostly fish for fun and hardly ever keep anything - but I know that Gulf can get nasty in a hurry so I'm a bit hesitant to go far from shelter with my little boat.
I look at the area around St Marys on Google earth, and see all those little creeks and bays and rivers and it seems like that is probably where I should go.
What do you folks think please.

Stick to the creeks and you'll be fine. Fish creek mouths, drop offs, structure, etc. with live shrimp under a cork and you'll catch fish.

I live the same distance from St marys as I am from steinhatchee, I have fished the ga coast 3 times in the last 4 years. I prefer the flats to our coast especially since I go scalloping every other week during scallop season. I find the ga coast to be less pressured but more work to fish.

Good info guys. It sure helps. Thanks for answering!
I drove down to Keaton beach today just to look around and get out of the house and man! What a change since the hurricane. The little restaurant is gone - the boardwalk on the jetty is tore up and closed - the old Sea Hag building is gone. The workmen told me that they just got the grant money today to rebuild the walkway on the jetty.

The marina was torn down so Foley bros could sell the property to build condos, the hurricane just helped expedite the process.