I will agree with everyone's suggestions and add two things:
First, experiment with a couple patterns. I got my first Bass end of April
last year when I switched from a chartruse clouser I had been drifting in the
current all morning (good call L.B.) to a chartruse deceiver--I'm not sure why,
maybe the less weight made it a slower target. So experiment a little.
Second, I would also reccomend Lou Tabory and Ed Mitchell's books "Inshore Flyfishing"
and "Flyrodding the Coast." Both are extremely practical and will
also ease the learning curve.
Good luck...