beginners may well want to use smaller hooks, such as size 2- 6 so all our 'minibeasts' can get them into their mouths. your catch rate for little uns can go up by using smaller hooks. this helps in learning unhooking and respect in treatment in our little fish, rockling, dabs, etc. aberdeens are good all round worming hooks.
the rest of the gear listed above is fine, just remember to use a sea rod YOU can bend, casting is an effortless affair with rods suited to the caster. the shockleader is essential, on my reels at the moment, both fixed spool and multiplier, i have 12lb big game line with 60lb shockleaders, to cope with the 5&1/4oz sinkers im hurling around.
a single hook rig with lugworm lobbed about 50-60yrds will account for pout, flatties rockling etc, as well as the occassional schoolie bass. casting is not the be all and end all, but a skill that comes with practice, it is more important to concentrate on location and presentation then lobbing leads to the horizion. for example i fished the low tide yesterday, i had one rod at 130yrds, and one rod at 40yrds, the 40yrd rod had all the bites. the 'distance' rod had nothing. best bet? get on the beach and enjoy it.
good luck