If you are targeting whiting, croaker, or pompano in the first trough, you want smaller hooks, usually in the #1 to 1/0 range
Their black, clear, or rubber-dipped net material is practically hook resistant with a flat bottom that makes quick photo, catch, and release for photo tournaments or transport to the livewell a breeze
In a harbor or very calm conditions, neither of which are our favorite conditions for leopard shark fishing, you can get away with a pyramid-style sinker, but most of the time we prefer open sandy beaches with a degree of water movement
The latter can pull much bigger fish as swims are carefully built up with regular feeding, not just carp but also bream and tench