You can check out Freeman's tackle just before the light in AB or just over the bridge go to Chasin' tails. 99% of the time my bait tackle (that I forgot to buy inland) I get from Chasin tails. They will give you tips and are pretty good guys. I'm down about every weekend from May to Oct. If you have facebook check out the facebook pages of all the shops down there for what is trending. Also there is some good info on the chasin'tails website on rigs and fishing etc.
7' medium rod 2500-3000 series reel 10-12lb mono or if you want braid go with "fins"(less wind knots than powerpro). If you go with braid tip it with 18" of 15-20lb fluro for jig heads and casting jigs.
Right now there is a decent mullet and puffer bite. Larger schools of bull reds father offshore. You can use a "sam's gitter" rig tipped with small marble size pieces of FRESH shrimp. Cast and retrieve with little jerks of the rod tip to make it bounce along.
If you want to go the 2 hook rig route and want to actually fish and not just throw it out and let it wait in the rod holder stay away from the pyramid sinkers. You have to bring the bait to the fish and the pyramids just don't allow the bait to find where the fish are (ie move around). Look into the flat pancake weights in 1/2-1oz size. Cast and retrieve in and around the breaks of the waves, look for soughs to fish. Most fish will be right at your toes to just where the wave begins to break over. You don't have to cast 200 yds out for these fish.
Jig heads: 1/4-3/8 oz tipped with new penny gulp shrimp or chartreuse swimming mullet. Bump it along the bottom, cast and retrieve.
Jig heads: (mustad SH786 1/4-3/8oz) this is a short hook jig head and works well with mullet minnows. Just insert the hook from the bottom jaw up through the nose and bump along the bottom. This is nasty when the flounder show up since the hook is smaller in length I get more hook ups than the larger normal size jigheads. It's pretty much my go to jig head.
Carolina rig (easy to tie) with a 3/8-1/2 oz lead on a live bait circle hook with a mud minnow or piece of shrimp.
The false albacore (cat food) should show up soon and if you see them buzzing the top at 30+mph you can try an "epoxy jig" ($$) or the cheaper $3 casting jigs in 1-2oz. Cast and retrieve like hell stopping occasionally to let it flutter down some. If you catch one, look for teeth, if it has only little or none, let it go unless you want to boil it.
Ft Macon jetty and north of the jetty along the inlet can hold some black drum as well. Bottom rig with shrimp for these.
Radio Island has a beach and could hold some trout. Jig head with chartreuse swimming mullet.
If you go to Harkers Island for the day there are a few bridges on the way to the island from Beaufort with fishing piers or an area to park on the side that you can fish.
Good luck.
