Jess,
It all depends on the type & size baits you are going to throw. For blacktail and grunter in gullies and estuaries (more bottom fishing i.e. very slow retrieve, or just let it wash in the current), use some Berkely Sandworm, prawn or peeler crab on a light jighead, say 1/8 to 1/4 oz with a 2/0 or 3/0 hook, and anywhere from 1/4 oz to 1 oz for casting in the surf. Use a faster, reel, reel twitch retrieve.Use a minnow immitation in the surf, such as the 3", 5" or 7" jerk shads in various colours.
Watch plenty of videos, too. The ones I've found best are the Blackfin range. Volume 1 will run you through all the basics (knots, jigheads, tachniques, plastics, retrieves), and Vol 2 will blow your mind! You cannot believe what these guys are pulling out!
Get to know your target fish, and its habitat & feeding habits. Dropshot opened up for me when I learned this!
Hope this helps a bit. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask. There are plenty of folks on this site who will share their knowledge with you. Also, do a search, or browse through the dropshot forum. There's an excellent post on the different types of retrieve there.
Mike
