On my main fishing boat, I have 4 graphs: Lowrance and Garmin at the console and a Humminbird and Garmin at the bow (I primarily fish off the bow).
Garmin has the best maps and I feel like the best FFS (live imaging). They're also extremely user friendly. Humminbird has the best side imaging and down imaging. Lowrance is solid all around, but I use mine mostly just for the waypoints I've stored over the years.
Based on the way the original poster is fishing, I'd suggest going with a Humminbird. IMO they have the best side imaging/down imaging/2D sonar combo. A Humminbird Helix 7 would in your price range. Look around for sales, or wait until black Friday, you can typically get a good deal on graphs that aren't the newest and latest and greatest - but still very, very good graphs.
Just a quick note, it's really difficult to see fish in weeds. But side imaging will help you find weed edges, and down imaging will show you the depth the weeds go down to as well as the type of weeds - - if you spend enough time on the water and become accustomed to your graph.
For jigging, the combination of side imaging and standard 2D sonar or down imaging is incredibly valuable IMO.
Livescope for the type of fishing you'd be doing is a game changer - but still quite expensive, although Lowrance just came out with a much more affordable unit (I believe in the $1000 range).
