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Well, I don't have much knowledge but my own research on the site led me to a jigging set up for the salt.  I ended up with Shimano Trevala rods which I'll end up pairing with conventional reels (once I decide on which).  Right now I use an Abu Garcia Revo Inshore baitcaster.

I just ordered a 10'6" noodle rod w/ okuma avenger for surf perching.

Can't ever go wrong with UglyStiks and Penns though

I usually don't pursue LMB or trout. But the best all around setup I've used in most cases is 7'-7'4"  MH  with 30lb braid prefer  sufix 832 . For chasing halibut, striper, ling cod / rockfish.  Daiwa lexa 300 for casting or a penn spinfisher 4500v with a live liner for spinning.  I llike my trevalas a lot. But  tend to grab my phenix m1 inshore rods more.

You can target 90% of NCAL fish species with the following 4 rigs. I would spend a year or 2 on freshwater only before fishing saltwater.

Freshwater
6 1/2 - 7' Spinning 4-10# (trout, panfish, light bass)
6 1/2 -7 1/2' Spinning or bait casting 8-14# (big trout, bass, striper, perch)
Rods: moderate action (parabolic) rods are more forgiving when high sticking and good for crankbaits.
Reels: 150 yards of line will usually get the job done. I like straight fluorocarbon.

Saltwater
7 - 7 1/2' Baitcasting or spinning 12-25# (rockfish, light halibut, salmon)
6 1/2 - 7 1/2' Baitcasting or trolling 15-30 or 40# (rockfish, big halibut, salmon)
Rods: moderate to fast action for the lighter rig, moderate for the heavier rig.
Reels: 200 yards of line will usually get the job done. I like mono or spectra main line.

There is a chance you are going to lose a few rods and reels overboard when kayak fishing so don't spend more than you are willing to lose. Some of the differences between boat and kayak fishing:
#1 You are more likely to high stick when landing fish from a kayak so a forgiving rod tip is good
#2 Big fish will tow the kayak with as little as 2-4# of drag so huge reel capacity isn't necessary and neither is really heavy line
#3 Breaking off bottom snags is more difficult from a kayak. Mono main line and line over 30# test can be really hard to break
#4 You are much more likely to lose a rod and reel from a kayak so floatation or leashing is something to consider.
#5 Your saltwater reels will get more exposure to water from a kayak. Get a reel which you can service yourself. In general, the more inexpensive conventional reels are the easiest to service. Ball bearings are often the first to corrode so reels with only 2 or 3 bearings are easier to service and maintain.

What a coincidence. Great Bass 2 basically said what I have 

GB 2 nailed it with the gear, but not sure why one would need 2 years on fresh before salt. Taking some classes to learn the fundamentals, start out in protected areas, practice in the surf and small swells, and try to hook up on trips with experienced folks. Many a complete noob started on the salt.

Sounds like you have some experience under your belt so your good to go, and don't worry about the landlord.

looking at this reel
want a good lightweight reel to put on my lamiglass conventional steelhead rod....

would like a low profile that holds a lot of line in case I loose some in 90+ and want to have enough left to fish for the weekend on the reel
also want a cheaper option...told myself 'no more' big $$ stuff on the salt and in the kayak..have a ton of good ugly stick and jigmaster combos with good line

but
have two new lamiglass med action x11 salmon rods and want to outfit one with a non line counter lighter reel

any help would be great....read most of the threads and wanted to post before I bought the one above

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ABU-Garcia-Revo-TORO-Winch-50-right-HANDED-Baitcasting-/201308776203?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2edef0270b

okuma reel
saltwater
great reviews
half of the cost of all others I looked at
all my okumas are great reels and cheap too--customer support for me has been 10 outta 10--top notch

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231323827338?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

hmm
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-CU200IPG-Curado-200-I-Low-Profile-Saltwater-Freshwater-Baitcasting-Reel-/221750002606?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33a15483ae

this is it

fits in the motorcycle tank bag..sunset surf perch 

Excellent info Scott!!
I realize this is an old post but...

"6 1/2 -7 1/2' Spinning or bait casting 8-14# (big trout, bass, striper, perch)"
Who has some recommendations on a ~7' rod/reel for 8-10# to handle the bigger side of freshwater? I imagine I'll go spin, since that's what I'm most familiar with for freshwater. I thinking mostly about two poles for freshwater - the 4# for most casting trout east side, and some higher test for trolling for bigger trout, and maybe some bass, etc. (But mostly fishing to eat, so will be steering mostly clear of more mercury issue fish, hence the east side and salt.) Thoughts?

Checkout the Shimano Clarus series--affordable w/good quality & reputation, and you can usually find them on sale for under $70. Or for a little bit more $ I like the St Croix Triumph rods.

Craig you crazy thread jacker! The Revo Toro is a good reel but that Okuma looks questionable. For low pro baitcasters, I've been using the Revo Toro, Revo Inshore, Daiwa Lexa, Daiwa Coastal Inshore lately. The Revo Inshore casts the best & is the smoothest, the Lexa feels the best, and the Toro is the most reliable with most line capacity.

here is a cheap one to try a low profile...am I wasting money-trying to save some money?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Daiwa-Aird-Coastal-Baitcasting-Reel-AIRCL100HSLA-7-1-1-/271861310594?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f4c326482

Eh 20 bucks more gets you a lexa 300.

thanks SlackTia... that helped me to decide and seems like a great price..my goal was to not buy a 200$ reel to see if I lke the smaller profile/weight and this 300 Lexa has 22lbs drag plus has the larger capacity for line

I bought this  one just now
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111561893987?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

should mate to my  med/fast action baitcaster lamiglass very nice ---try and use for some detail work around the kelp and mooching
sorry Pat If I thread jacked-I just did not want to start the 300rd 'what reel should I buy ?' thread and figured this thread was recent enough to ride on it...I did need some feedback on those current ebay sales and quality/price

going to spool it with power pro high vis slick 8 yellow and a decent length fluoro leader for kicks--never used the yellow and it will help know it from other line in my collection by sight/reel
try some new stuff