If time isn't a concern and im on a new body of water. I follow the steep contour lines and drop offs on my map. Look for any structure, irregularities, bait etc. If time is a concern, I basically just run points. I start deep and work my way in. Looking at my graph most of the time, looking for anything down there that would hold fish. The one thing I have learned since fishing schools and offshore once I got a boat was don't be discouraged by rough fish. When I first started fishing points and deep structure during a tournament, I would see bait and fish on my graph. Start fishing and catch drum. I would leave and figure the fish down there were drum. Then I watched a video on youtube, I cant remember what pro was doing the tutorial, but he said drum are good because bass feed and hang around with drum. So I spent more time on a spot where I was catching drum, it may have taken a few drum or an hour or 2 of fishing, but eventually id hook into some bass.
Like any type of fishing, its about confidence. If you have no confidence fishing offshore, then your odds of being successful aren't good. I have confidence, so I can fish deep on points and drop-offs all day. But to a bank beater, its torture, they need to see the structure and work it. Its very intimidating, but once you catch fish and gain confidence, its a lot of fun. Good luck
