Offshore out of Cameron

[C-Bass2mouth]

Staying with a buddy this weekend at his camp on BL. Just got him a 24' bay boat and he's wanting to try for some triple tail and ling (or really anything edible). I've been 30 miles out of Cameron before with a different buddy (with a good bit of experience offshore) in a 24' with 1' seas and it was nice. Now the buddy with the new boat and myself have no experience running a boat in the gulf and pretty limited on tackle (he's got 2 snapper rigs and a jigging spinning rig, and I have some bass flipping sticks that should handle trips). If it's over 2' seas I'm pretty much out, but if it is calm, would we have just as much luck hitting the buoy chain out (if the water isn't poop) or would we need to hit certain rigs? He's got a gps and all but I'm not sure if he has the right chip for the gulf (and he probably doesn't either, he's more of a popping cork while drifting or bust kind of guy), but we could at least follow our trail back in if not. Just looking to catch something cool and not die...
I might get more out of this if I break down the questions I guess.

1. How far should I expect to have to go to hit clean water
2. Is it a gradual change in color or is there normally a defined line, if so is this a good place to target if grass matts are there?
3. Buoy chain or certain rigs
4. What conditions would be bad enough to stay inshore for a 24' with a single 300hp (80 gal fuel I think). Like, where I won't be scared for my life at any point lol.
5. Cast net mullet or do I need to go buy a sabiki rig? Or will jig heads and gulp be sufficient?
6. What CAN'T I keep
7. Will I have better success if I wear my buff

Any feedback is greatly appreciated, and remember everyone has to start somewhere, so excuse my lack of knowledge. Went on my first 2 blue water trips this year and am "ruint."

Thanks again,
C-Bass