re: Rod and reel combo for fishing in bay from the bank

I would say longer rod if your not worried about trees or breaking rod in door etc 8' or 8'6" u can sling a hook no weight pretty far. All of my wade fishing rods are west coast river style. I can just do more and reach farther with smaller baits

Rod: my favorites
Ugly stick elite spinning 8'6"
Shimano teramar 8'
Ugly stick inshore select 7'6"
Lamiglass x-11 salmon 8'6"
Star rod stellar lite 8'

Reels:
Pflueger president 6940 (old one I have no experience with new ones)
Penn Spinfisher V 4500 (things are tanks and heavy no experience with the vi)
Penn slammer III 4500


Braid:
I put 10-15lb braid on all my shore setups. It's really extends my casting range on top of the longer fast action rod

I put 20-40lb braid on the rods that go in the boat and get into mahi and other fish that I have a chance of getting some tanks.

I use 15, 20, & 30lb floro topshot and keep small spools of all three in bacg at all times. If I get into blue fish and mackerel i swap on a 50lb floro or some wire


Edit:

Gear:
Buy a pair of close toed sandals all plastic/rubber no cloth. U will be able to get more range on your casts and keep your fish off the rocks when landing him.
-Crocs with the go fast strap on back will protect your feet from oysters and other razor blade like debris, and prevent you from loosing your sandle in the mud.
- my go to is small circle hook like size of your thumb nail no weight through the nose of a mullet or any round body fish sling it fast and slowly slowly reel him in like a crank bait only he is alive doing his thing. When he starts panicking and going crazy stop reeling and let him do all the action.
- second go to are gulp white or grey shrimp in jig head (if u are getting hardheads or other crap fish switch to unscented jigs)
-cast net
-ice chest/bucket with aerator. Or wade fishing bucket (flowtroll style)