you can get as into salt fishing as you really want...
It is pretty much a year round fishery.
I like a "slime" line like the aqualux from rio. But i also always have a floater with me in the summer. Fishing for SRCs and salmon on poppers or sliders is a lot of fun.
A fast action 6wt or 7wt will suffice in almost all situations. A 6wt will handle any cuts, but the 7wt allows you to have enough rod for the bigger incedental salmon.
You dont have to have a great reel but i would reccomend an anodized reel which will help protect against the salt. Most of the anodized reels will also have a little bit better drag for the bigger fish.
Any gravel point with a good current surrounded by eel grass is a great bet... a good slope to the beach is nice as well
(almost) NEVER WADE DEEP FOR CUTS...
when fishing from a boat i pull my flies right off the shore in most cases... These fish will sit in less than a foot of water at times.
explore the canal or the sound.