If you bait with shrimp, all will be easy... but you gotta fish where the fish are
If going for smaller pan size fish IE whiting, croaker, pompano, trout, slot reds take some fishbites and buy some fresh dead shrimp. Use 1/0 and 3/0 circle hooks, assorted weights, pyramids or claw sinkers in weight ranging from 1oz to 3oz (or whatever your rod can throw and will hold bottom). You can use single drop or double drop leader
That setup has caught me everything from 6" whiting and croaker up to oversized reds, going thru pup sharks and keeper trout.
