I leave it all in the truck from the spring to well , its still all in there. i also believe that you should have spare evrything and a spare for the spare too.
Since we use mostly jigs , I like about 200 or so on hand , just in case!!
I try to get multi duty from everything. The pliers got to cut hooks and line and pull hooks , etc. No seperate scissors or hook remover , etc. Just a good pair of pliers.
I also keep plenty of good cloths around. warm cloths , dry cloths , foul weather gear , boots etc. Always a couple of extra sweatshirts too. Being dry and warm will make the difference in how you feel and therefore how long you last fishing. Being tough against the elements is one way to handle it but i think being smart against the elements is a better way.
I like to try to figure out what I'm going to do so i can minimize what's in the surf bag. Its all in the truck but i like to load a bag with just what i expect to use that night.
Another tip is to always buy the best gear you can. I have never found that buying cheaper stuff saves you money in the long run. Good reliable stuff , even though expensive at first , lasts longer and oerforms better and is really where you get the economy , not from buying cheap.