Getting into the sport can be intimidating at first. Typically most of the people you will find at the popular fishing spots have developed this major holier than thou attitude and probably won't be the best people to ask for advice. You will find a few people out there who will tell you if you're doing something majorly wrong, but as the old addage goes be careful who you take advice from, we dispense it by the load but take it by the grain.
You're best bet, besides this site, will be to either find a fishing club near you (there's usually a pretty good comraderie there) or ask some of the old timers at the local bait shop where the hot spots in the area are, and how to set up your rigs. It's really not that difficult to learn the basics, the trouble is learning the actual technique to casting large rods and fishing particular styles of bait or lures.
