BOOKS

[Joe]

Surfcasters Quest is really about the pursuit of solitude. Reading The Water provides insight into successful techniques for big fish.... including luck. There are good techniques woven into the stories but they are not geared for a newbie.
Woolner & Lyman's Striped Bass Fishing is still good but getting dated tackle-wise. Secrets Of Surfcasting At Night is good but it I don't think it went through more than one printing. I have not read The Complete Surfcaster so I can't comment.
Lou Tabory's Inshore Fly Fishing provides a wealth of information relating to structure. The discussion transcends fly-fishing with many practical applications for surfcasters.
But I would have to say that Striper Surf and the Shore Guides from OTW are really all you need - excellent how and where-to resources.