Boat Question

[Average Fisherman]

I certainly don't want to start boat wars. Basically, I'm trying to start getting ideas for what kind of boat to get in the next year or two. I grew up fishing freshwater, and have been hitting the beaches for a couple years now. I borrowed a friends 14' Alumacraft and took it out on Big Lake, and that just didn't pan out. So here's my checklist.....

16-18'
$7000-10000
Geared for salt
Enough boat to handle BL, and maybe the bays near Grand Isle


That's pretty much it. If those specs don't jive with getting out on Barataria, I can live with that. Just trying to find out what to look for as a good starter boat for a guy familiar with boating, but an entirely different kind of boating. I've been looking at the 16 or 17 foot Carolina Skiff, and that seems close to something that would work. Thanks for any help!