Regarding the weeds, a gaff hook with a 3-5 foot handle works good to pull the weeds awsy from the outboard motor.
Put a piece of cork on the tip of the hook when not in use and store it if you have space.
I used to love fishing Lox when I lived nearby. Tranquil and sometimes good fishing.
When the water was flowing out of the flats, I would try to find areas with had higher current at the edges of the flats. When water was stable, the edges and holes in the hydrilla were good for some action.
If you can get back into some areas that are hard to get into, isolated little ponds, those can be real good also. Just dont get lost or stuck.