MJ,

When the fish are in, all stages of tide are best. Maybe the edge goes to incoming tide. Problem is, at high tide, there is very little room. Solution is, take a float tube.

The standard terminal rig is drift gear, with green or chartreuse corkie and tuft of yarn. Try it on a flyrod with any of a number of standard saltwater chum flies - chum candy, fergusson, or just plain green/chartreuse yarn tied on a salmon hook. I'd suggest at least an 8 weight rod. I use an 11 weight. You don't want to play the fish all day in the midst of combat conditions. Likewise, this is not the place for a noodle rod.

I don't see why a float and jig wouldn't work. The problem to consider is whether the float and jig can co-exist with the vast majority of the people using drift gear. Your line will get casted over. This is usually no problem with drift gear and even drift gear and fly lines - everything is sinking. It seems like it would be a prolem with your main line running to a float. Again, the solution would be a float tube or something to get you out away from the crowd a bit.

Good luck!