Your ocean gear is probably going to be different from your freshwater lake gear, but they are capable of being multi-purpose to an extent. A lot really depends on what you're looking to target. I'd start with freshwater as it's a bit simpler and you can get away with catching just about any freshwater fish in socal on light tackle.

Most common game fish in America is largemouth bass, so if you were to target that just as a beginner looking to catch fish, I'd start with a medium fast to medium heavy fast. I prefer mediums since I tend to fish more finesse baits, but the location you're fishing will probably dictate what rod and tackle will work best (thick grass, etc)

Tackle Warehouse is a great store to buy online from. Many good rod and reel brands. I've never had a problem with any of my rods. I use Abu Garcia, Quantum, Shimano, and Daiwa. For reels (both spinning and baitcasting) I use Okuma, Shimano, and Daiwa. Just read reviews on products within your budget and go for it. You won't be able to tell the difference between a $200 rod and a $50 rod when you're first starting out. Hell, I've caught many of my fish on an old 5'6" Ugly Stik my wife pulled up off the bottom of a lake floor with her lure.

Really depends on what your looking to spend and what you need the rod to do cashion makes good rods inshore and freshwater Shimono reels are great

Your budget will determine a lot but I think a great versatile setup would be a 2500 size spinning reel and a 7ft medium rod.

The best bang-for-your-buck option for salt and freshwater is the Daiwa Fuego LT 2500D reel and Aird-X Costal 7'0" medium rod.

The Daiwa Fuego LT is a sealed reel so it's good for salt and fresh water. The 2500D has a deep spool (D=deep) so you get a lot of line capacity with a smaller body reel. They are on sale for $65 at several places right now.

Get a sealed reel that can handle salt water. Shimano makes great stuff. Always wash off your gear after fishing because the salt water will destroy everything. For surf fishing, I use a 10 foot medium heavy rod but you can go bigger if you want. I live in North Carolina so I have no idea how fishing is is California, but I can imagine it’s not too different

Stay away from spincasting reels for saltwater. Go to a local bait/tackle shop and ask them.

Share some info about whether you’re NorCal or SoCal and whether you’ll be fishing from shoreline, piers/jetties, boat and/or kayak. You mention lures but will you be fishing with bait as well?

But like gerbilstuffer said, your local bait and tackle shop should be perhaps the best resource at your disposal.

Really depends on the type of fishing you're doing...Throwing lures, bait fishing etc...

Get a basic spinning setup, size 4000 reel, 9-9.5' rod, 8-17lb test.

Run 30 lb braid.

You can catch lingcod/rockfish from jetty, cast for kings in the sound, and fish rivers with any technique.

Good all around option.

You 100% can if the power and rating/size etc all work for your intended fish but saltwater will beat the shit out of your gear so if you intend to double duty then make sure you really rinse your gear well afterwards.

For inshore stuff it’s fine.

Lots of guys use heavy gear for the same applications.

I still use ultralight stuff in saltwater too.

Paddletails, rapala xrap twitchen mullet, buggs lures, good ol shrimp imitations. Live/dead shrimp.

SaltStrong has a simple selection of stuff so you’re not overwhelmed with paddle tail options. I use Berkly Fusion 19 jig heads, that’s what I found to be the best that holds onto standard plastics super well, screw lock heads are better, I like VMC or mustad for those.

Leadhead jigs 1/4oz-1oz w/ a paddle tail (white if you're not sure about color) will work great in saltwater. You can also buy 4" Tsunami shads that have everything integrated.

Drop shot with 1-2oz of lead weight at the bottom will work great too for near-bottom fishing (e.g. summer flounder).

Also highly recommend small deadly dick lures in case the bluefish are around.

If you use your existing gear and have fun, consider buying a reel that has more sealing / labyrinth to keep water out. Shimano's Stradic FL reels are currently on sale everywhere for under $200 because newer models are out -- it's a workhorse and saltwater safe reel that will find plenty of use in freshwater too. 4000 size works great for fish 15lbs and under, can double as a larger capacity / heavier largemouth setup, and stays super light so you can cast all day. 20-30lbs power pro + a fluoro leader gives you the most versatility. You can catch anything in the surf! I personally like 4000 size reel + 20lbs.

You might eventually want a longer rod too if you're fishing the surf, for the extra casting distance and to support longer leaders without casting a knot through the guides. 9-9'6" 2-pc rods rated for something like 3/4-4oz are super fun in the surf. If you're on a pier, 7ft bass setup will work fine.

You’re fine for 90% of inshore use.

You don’t really need big gear unless you’re going after Bull Red, Cobia, King Macks or Tarpon.

Medium-heavy will come in handy if you fish around structure. 5-10lb fish are much more common in saltwater, so keep that in mind.

1/8 or 1/4oz hooks with 3” paddletails are all you need. Maybe toss in some bucktails and casting spoons. Yo-yo retrieve or straight retrieve at whatever speed needed for your target fish or depth.

What you have should definitely work. A 7’6” MHF or MF with a 2500 or 3000 size reel is a common inshore saltwater setup. Don’t dunk your reels and just lightly spray everything down with water after each use. I use 10lb braid with a 15-20lb fluoro leader for inshore fishing. You may already have flukes or paddle tails which work well on a weighted hook or jig head. Live/dead or artificial shrimp are popular options. I’d look up a fishing report and see what has been biting and decide what you want to fish for and base your lure/bait decisions off of that.

Saltwater can destroy reels. Definitely keep the reels separate.

I do use a couple rods for both, but saltwater reels stay saltwater reels and are cared for differently.

I am a fan of penn battle 2. They have sealed bearings making it harder for saltwater to destroy. Or go with a cheap reel and not care that it will break.

Sounds like you want to fish from the shoreline. Check out Benji Kim

https://youtu.be/1s5x8cwEUuw?si=N5Rx8A8yauFN291H

You can also fish jetties and get on sportboats to fish inshore or go fishing around Catalina. Piers are headaches especially if there's surfers.

Would help to know your location. East coast, West coast, northern or southern. Each are different. # 1 for any is invest in a good sealed real for saltwater. The rest can be entry level until you figure it out.

It’s going to partially depend on where you fish . Most surf fishers start with 2 rod setups - 1 light for lures / small bait and 1 heavy for bait

Most rod brands have something in these options

But generally a 8-9 ft rod that is thin/light and lure weight of 1/2-2ish oz. this is going to let you cast swim baits and other lures actively . And it’s light so you can walk the beach etc and cast with it for a while . 3-4000 reel

You can also use to throw shrimp or small cut bait out on 1 oz sinkers in inlets or calm surf

Then a 10 ft rod that’s 2-6 oz that in heavier surf sinkers for 3-4 oz and some bait (shrimp/clams/cut fish) and put in sand spike . You can also use this rod for 2 oz top water lures for bigger fish like blue fish or striped bass etc . Probably 4-6k reel

If your starting out you can get the heavier rod off Facebook marketplace if your looking by to save some $$

Do you have any current fishing equipment right now, you can always use that to start off with.

I suggest an 8 ft. Star Stellar rod paired with a 3500-4500 size reel for casting lures and a 10 ft. Bummy Stick from Ninja Tackle paired with a 4000-5000 size reel for bait AND for casting larger lures when the situation calls for it.

Ugly Stik Bigwater Surf Spinning Combo - BWS1530S10270SZ $100

300 yards of 40# braided line. Fill spool with a little bit of 20 # mono before you spool on the braided line.

You’ll need a fishing license in FL for saltwater.

Go to tackle store before you go out and ask what type of fish are being caught this week, and they can set u up with appropriate tackle and bait.

I wouldn't go too crazy if it's just the ICW. Just a couple of medium action spinning rods with Daiwa BG 3-4000s.brinse the reels out after using them

If you're just using bait, you can't go wrong with ugly stiks

Medium action rod. Low end G. Loomis is awesome. Yes you’ll spend a little more but trust me it’s worth it. I’ve fished with buddies and switched my rod with theirs and the ROD out fished the other. 2500 reel (I skimp here, I really like the shimano sienna about $30). 20-30# braid and keep lighter fluorocarbon for leader (15#).

All you need is 2500 reel/combo with 20lb braid

Stradic 3000. 10 lb braid. Bull bay rod

Highly recommend lighter. 2500 reel sized stuff. 10-15lb braid.

Have fun casting a country mile. And then the off chance you hook into a 25 lb red....................

you just catch it.

People overestimate what you need if you know how to fight fish properly. I would recommend looking up how to fight fish properly and then ur good to go.

And for literally 99% of the other fish you catch, it will actually be fun

Edit: just noticed you said flyfishing. Brother. Thats my life. I use a 7wt with a tiber everglades and a 7wt mangrove coast. But thats because I use my everglades on my 7wt and my 9wt scott sector.

I would 100% get a 7wt echo rod and a lamson liquid. Go to sierra trading company and get one of their lamson liquid reels for super cheap brother. You are set with that. I used a redington behemoth and a 60$ used redington rod for almost 3 years. Both were 8wt. Caught tarpon (smaller...30lbs) sharks, reds, rainbow trout, bass, reds, speckled trout, snook, literally everything. I only switched to my tibor bc after 3 years my reel finally died, and then my rod actually broke not too long ago with a shark on the end.

If u want an 8wt you could do that as well. But id personally go 7wt for most inshore stuff, and then I would get a 9wt for my sharks, tarpon (50-60lbs), etc. If it's windy just bring the 9wt. And then one day when you can get a super nice 9wt, its so sensitive that it feels like a 7wt while having the power to chuck line a country mile. So I end up using it more than my 7wt... but ya.

TLDR:

2500 reel conventional

7wt echo or 8wt if that's what u want

Lamson liquid from Sierra trading

My two most used are a Ninja Dagger inshore rod paired with a Shimano Nasci 2500 and a Bull Bay Sniper rod with a Penn Battle 3500. I like the Nasci the best out of my reels and it is only $100 or so. I also have a medium light Penn rod with a 2500 Penn reel that is really fun to fight the fish on with the lighter rod.

I’ve mostly switched from 30lb braid to 20lb braid and haven’t had an issue, even with a 30” snook. Just make sure you’ve got a good leader and knot.