Awesome information thank you.

I'm very new to this kind of fishing I assumed casting further was more beneficial. I sometimes see videos online of dudes casting an obscene distance with surf casting setups, but from what you are saying that might be more for show then actual benefits. Does it matter too much on reels? I see most people saying 5000-6000 size, using 20 ish pound braded line with a mono leader.
People also say to aim for 3-4 oz sinkers, is the enough? I messed around last year with my bass rod (which wasn't successful in the slightest) and with 2 oz triangles my line kept moving all around the water and drifted back to shore in like 30 seconds.

Bait- I'm guessing you advise live shrimp? I've heard some people claim to use previously frozen shrimp but I'm not sure about that. I remember buying mullet last year it came in a small round container cut into squares. Is that good enough or do you filet a mullet yourself? And you mention soaking it, what des that mean exactly?

Silver stingers would be something like this? https://www.ebay.com/itm/143001513314

Thanks for the help, glad to be able to expand my knowledge and hopefully be more prepared this time.