I bring 2 med action spinning rods, a 6 1/2 and a 7 ft both rigged w/ 6lb test. I can still cast it a decent ways and I'm using 3/8 oz egg sinkers max. Definitely not halfway into the channel like the others with their surf/pier gear but far enough. The wind was blowing pretty strong for most of the afternoon which did make it harder to cast.
I've learned from other members on fnn that even moving a few feet can make a huge difference so keep trying different spots if you aren't getting bit after some time. Just cuz I nailed a bunch of cats last Friday in a particular spot in the channel doesn't mean they'll be in the same exact spot another day so just keep looking til you locate a decent sized school. Shore fishing + no fish finder is soooo hit or miss.