[Linesider82]

Welcome to SB and surfcasting.

Boga Grip - Not necessary unless a fish's weight is very important to you. The plastic fish grippers are about 14 dollars, light weight and act like visegrips in function. They are the easiest to carry. Carry a cloth tailor's tape measure if you want accurate fish size.

night vision head flashlight: UK vizion costs around 50 dollars, is "waterproof" and has three light settings, one of which is red. Energizer has one that is water resistent for 10-15 dollars with a red light as well. I use white light for moving around and red to change plugs and take fish off. Sometimes both of these operations can do without turning the light on based on moon light. I recommend always carrying a backup light, that is waterproof (dive light), small in size, and either carry around your neck or dedicate a spot in your plug bag for it.

Fish hook removal tool: Like other said a good pair of pliers is very important, and also something that can cut through a hook in emergencies.

Have hand me down waders: LLbean breathable stockingfoot waders, as for boots Simms felt bottoms- headwaters model, or freestones have a great sole that is thick enough to accept Grip Studs 1800 model studs. Do a search on this site for Grip Studs, there were several good discussions on this topic over the last year or so. However if you are fishing sand beaches primarily studs & felt bottoms aren't necessary and would only become heavy.

From personal experience, my favorite pieces of equipment have been:
-Simms boots with Grip studs for fishing in and from rocks. They are excellent boots, very comfortable, and adding enough studs so that my own weight was evenly distributed over the studs so as not to create pressure points. I used 29 studs per boot.
-Commando Surf Belt (not a wading belt, need both in waders) This belt is excellent, it is rigid, 1/4" thick or so, and has a double locking clip made from hard plastic. Everything is attached to it, so it is a critical piece of gear. Pliers, plug bag, etc. stay where I need them to be and the belt doesn't fold over. I also hang a stainless "O" ring from the front of my belt to slide the rod into while unhooking fish, or taking a water break.
-Dive knife, blunt tip, made from Titanium. I've used mine once to dislodge a hooked fish from a bouy rope. But this piece of equipment is for safety. Old line, lobster pot ropes, etc, could entangle our feet while in the surf and it is a critical item to have in my opinion. Dive shops will carry items like this.
-Lanyards & retractors, nothing like saving your investments in good gear. Retractors are nice because you can buy them to suit the weight of the items you wish to tether off. For example a pair of pliers wouldn't require the same retractor as a boga grip. If you wade in the salt odds are your gear will get wet, so make sure the lanyards or retractors have stainless hardware.
-One piece of equipment that is not necessary and a personal choice, but has quickly grown on me is a False Bar Customs harness. This attaches to your surf belt at two point in the front and one point in the rear. It take the load of the surf belt and gear and distributes it between my waist, and both shoulders. It does take up additional room on the surf belt, which is in my opinion its one con. However I can mount other items on it such as a camera case and my dive knife. The biggest plus IMO is the weight distribution.

Again, there is a ton of info on this site. The options a surfcaster has today for gear are nearly unlimited, personally I find myself wanting to carry less and less on every outing. Some guys like to take everything, some guys like to only fish a few plugs or jigs. I carry 40 to 50 pounds of gear around at work each day, so when I hit the surf I don't want to lug around a 4 tube bag filled to the brim. I would suggest buying what is necessary to catch fish safely, then ask yourself do I really need more. Fish with plugs or bait that you are confident in, if you have no where to start, ask a local tackle shop what works in areas you plan to fish and learn those lures or baits. Stick with them, learn what they look like in daylight, learn how deep they dive, or if they'd catch on the bottom. If someone offers you a chance to fish with them, take it, listen and learn. Most important have fun and enjoy each fish, big or small. Good luck and keep asking questions.