Getting in slow and cheap

[jbm]

Hi there,
I've been reading this forum for about a week now and I'm very interested in getting started kayak fishing. I'm hoping some of you knowledgeable people here can help me ease into the sport without making a huge investment all at once.
I have no experience ocean fishing other than a party boat trip about 25 years ago. I spent many years bass and panfish fishing in Michigan as a kid and have been doing some trout fishing here over the last few years. The only equipment I have currently are ultralight spinning rods for trout.
I would really like to get started ocean fishing, with my goal being to bring home fish to eat more so than trophies. I'd ideally like to catch halibut, yellowtail, and anything else tasty. I'd also like to start hoop netting for lobster once I get the kayak. I'd like to start by getting some minimalist fishing gear and starting shore and pier fishing near Oceanside. Then as I can save some money, I'd invest in the kayak.

Can anyone give me some advice on what rod/reel combos and tackle to start with for a minimal entry that won't just frustrate a newbie? Any good sources of used equipment? I don't know squat about saltwater gear, so the more specific, the better.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. With 2 small kids and the associated activities, my time for experimentation is limited, so some sage advice would be extremely valuable to me.

Thanks!

Jason