In 25 words or less
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Several main methods:
Cut bait casted to a spot and you wait for the fish to hit it.
Cast and retrieve artificial lures or a live bait like eels
Live-line a lively bait - often tough from shore but sometimes doable, not likely that time of year
And the Fly-Rod...
The easiest method is probably tossing out a chunk of bait and waiting for something to happen but if you like using artificials, you could get boared... It is also a way to big fish though...
Also very productive would be casting various plugs like swimmers & darters rigged with teasers (droppers) like a streamer or Red Gill. Also very effective are casting live eels from the beach.
Good rods are typically 8.5-10 feet and range from 15 to 40 pounds test line depending on what you are casting and can be used with spinning or conventional (multiplier) reels. Lures run from real light 1/2 ounce up to 4 ounce big wooden plugs. So there are lots of variety...
Did I mention that the best fishing is usually after dark? Bass have an edge in nocturnal feeding and the bigguns typically move in to shore at and after dark...
Check out the gallery pages and you'll see some sweet fish, about 2/3rds are surf caught fish...
http://www.striped-bass.com/gallery/Gallery1/index.html