Surf fishing setup

Hello all!
I'm getting set for my first of 2 trips to myrtle beach I take each year. My timeshare is at a small 9 story, ocean front place named the schooner. I love it. Any my favorite part is starting each day casting a line into the blue hoping to hook a monster. I normally take my catfish gear and a big bass rod with me and I have a tackle box I keep in mind codo at the beach full of all the rigs and weights and some assorted lures.
So my first question is this: I'm looking at buying new rods and reels to keep at the beach this time. I'm wanting a big rod and spinning reel for live bait and a smaller reel I can cast lures and plugs on but still use for live bait. I'd like to spend no more than $150 on both. I'm open to any and all suggestions! Otherwise ok just buy what looks best at bass pro lol.
My second question pertains to technique. I usually use either shrimp, squid strips, live mullet, or my favorite... FISHBITES, in various colors and flavors. But I mostly catch small sharks, croaker, an occasional blue. But I'd like to catch a bigger variety of fish. What can I do differently to catch other types of fish from the surf? Different bait, different lure? Different cast, retrieve, anything.
I leave On 6/10 and will be there till 6/17 so if anyone is in myrtle beach and wants to give me some tips I'd appreciate it.
Thanks again!
Jesse


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I'm no surf expert, but this guy has some good videos. Here's one on tackle selection:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r2NTlkDTq0

I'm a little late here (sorry), but I've had luck fishing quartered blue crab in the surf for redfish - you can either use your standard drop rig or a fishfinder rig (which I prefer for the bigger bait). On the other end of the live bait spectrum, putting a couple of sand fleas on the same drop rig you've been fishing your squid strips can snag a pompano during the summer, but I'd bet they've moved back south now that it's cooling off.