[id10t]

Fresh or salt water?

For fresh, hard to beat a #6 long shank hook and a small bobber 18" up the line, with maybe a small split shot 6" up the line from the hook. Bait with earth worms, grubs, crickets, grasshoppers, a small ball of bread (smash/roll it tight between your fingers, maybe 1/4" diameter), dough, piece of hot dog, bacon, ham, etc. You'll catch plenty of pan fish.

For saltwater shore/pier fishing, hard to beat a 1/0 or 2/0 circle hook with a live shrimp or piece of fresh cut mullet on it, 24" leader, and a large enough pyramid sinker to pin it to hte bottom (anywhere from 1/2 to 4+oz depending on current and wave).