I fished fresh and salt water as a teen down on the Gulf Coast. I had 2 sets of tackle, one for each. The boat was wooden and the engine was an 18 Evinrude. I did notice the salt water attack my things even though I kept them washed after every outing; I took care of my equipment. My thoughts on the subject are just what are you after, fishing fun or a relic? I can take a stand on either, both pos and neg. Your boat, your decision. But once in the salt it will show up as the corrosion sets in; obvious in subtle things like hardware and fastners, even SS parts. Also in buying a used boat I looked for one that did not have the signs, however by that time I had moved inland and didn't want a salt water boat there. Had I still been on the coast it wouldn't have mattered.
If you're talking about Rockport, TX. I fished there with my grandpa when I was a kid during summer vacation. We had some stellar times out in the bay fishing for speckled trout (spotted weakfish) and crabbing. We'd catch crabs wading with a dip net, crush them and put them in fish trap cages to catch "piggie pearch". Don't know why but the specks preferred the piggies over regular perch. Stripes were opposite from the regular perch is how you could tell them. Drift fished with popping corks. Jerk the line and the cork would make a splash like feeding trout which was used to lure them onto your bait. When a school was in the area you could smell them. Smelled like watermelon. Sounds crazy but true.
Great sport.
Mark