how to rig 7' St Croix Surf Rod 5/8 oz?

[Les Algae]

Got this surf rod as a gift. It's pretty nice, except I'm not sure if I should exchange it or not. I'd like to make it work for me though.

Up til now the lightest lures I throw are 1 oz gotchas. I have some regular surf rods that throw a min of 2 oz on up to 8 oz or so. I'm not sure what to throw with a rod rated at 5/8 oz? I fish mostly on NC beaches, jettys and piers.

I've read about jig heads and curly tails and other light weight lures. Will these do me much good ocean side or are these more for bay? Will I trash this rod throwing a gotcha? It doesn't feel like it would.

I have either a stradic 2500 or a Penn 360 Slammer to put on it. Both seem to balance out on the rod.

Preference of 12 mono or 20 lb braid( got a spool of both)

Any thoughts on how to mix these ingredients, and what type of light weight stuff works in the surf/jetty summer time?

thanks.

[Dogfish Daze]

I regularly fish a 71/2 foot rod with a Penn 4500 in the surf. I use 10 lb mono with a 25 lb flourocarbon leader. I use it for 1/2 oz or less jig heads with Gulps and 1 oz or under Hopkins, gold and silver. You can have a lot of fun in the surf with light tackle. Great for flounder, puppy drum and bluefish. I landed a 24" puppy drum and a 26" bluefish on this rig. Good most any day unless the wind and surf are just crazy. Good luck.