Braid under 30# or so can be hell on the hands and a pain in the azz.
I use 30 or 50 for about everything from trout to lings and kings. You can pack plenty on even a smallish reel and run a top shot of mono appropriate for your fishing and any other leader needed.
Like LD said, you don't have to use a long rod if you're catching little surf perch right off the beach, but if you want to chuck it out a ways, length is muy bueno.
