Setups:
6'6" Medium Power Moderate Action Casting- Shimano Curado 7.2:1 ($130 on Ebay new)- 50lb Power Pro Super Slick 8 braid-(blood Knot) 10-12" 30lb mono leader (topwaters)
7'0" Medium Power Fast Action Spinning- Shimano Symetre FL 3000- 30lb Power Pro Super Slick 8 braid-(blood Knot) 18-36" 30lb mono leader- 1/8 oz jighead
I make and fish my own custom rod's so maybe someone else could help as to which brands of rods are good these days. I know in the past I've never been disappointed in a Falcon rod for the price.
Artificials:
1/8th oz jighead with 1/0 or 2/0 hook
5" Gulp Jerk Shad: Chartruese, Nuclear Chicken
Spec RigGold Spoon
Topwaters: Heddon Super Spook Jr: Red head white body, Bone
2 rods is all you need, Medium power rods with braid handle bull reds just fine (and make it more fun). Just make sure to set your drag correctly
Go out and wade different spots until you find some fish. My favorite wading from the car spot is behind the church with the green roof just passed packery channel on your left hand side heading towards port a on 361. The North side jetty is usually really good this time of year for all species, taking the ferry across as suggested is a good option.
Driving down the beach on a calm day looking for slicks, sloughs, and outsucks is a great way to land some huge trout; and if the reds are running when you're down there.. youre in for some fun.
An old pair of tennis shoes or some cheap Hodgeman wading booties from academy and some jeans or knee zip (or similar material) pants make great wading attire.
Not a live/dead bait guy, but a popping cork and shrimp/gulp shrimp make a deadly combo, especially at night on the edges of pier lights.
18-24" leader with a 3/0 kahle hook or a #2 treble hook.
Throwing any live/dead bait on the bottom with your existing setups will work great.
Oh and don't forget to have
fun! You're only there twice a year, so don't stress too much about catching fish and worry more about enjoying your 2 days down there.
Also, the Woody's boats usually put you on a few fish for pretty cheap, and are a good time to down a few liquid bread calories.