They have those big wagons with pneumatc tires for 30 bucks thats pretty cheap and those wagons would work good in the sand.

My buddy and I fished the barrier islands in Empire last weekend. We didn't do too well because of the wind and rain, but thats not my point. We went to Academy before we left and saw that their wade fishing belt was on clearance sale. It was originally $19.95 but reduced to $9. we checked out and it rang up at $2.23! We bought 2 of them for 5 dollars! its blue with a long and a pouch on the belt with a clear little tackle box. Its perfect for wade fishing. Go get one!

I do alot of wade fishing and Ive found after wrecking aot of good reels that the best thing is just to go buy cheap one's every year that way if it go's in the sand or drop it in the rocks its just twenty bucks and not a hundered and twenty. And ive found the most important peace of gear to me for surf fishing is those little nets that you can hang around your arm give's you someplace to hold your fish while unhooking it, wet hands and slippery fish dont mix. As far as the icechests goes you might could rig up a little sled easy if it had a smooth bottem seams like it should glide along in the sand pretty easy.

I agree it is a good idea to use cheaper reels. What is a good size to use to get the optimal casting distance but still lightweight. I understand the bigger and longer the easier to cast, but I prefer to use the smallest I can get away with. I was thinking a 7 or 7 1/2 foot rod but want to get the right action to be able to work topwaters and popping corks. I would love to see what combos yall are using out there to get some ideas. What is an affordable (30-40 dollars) reel that will hold up?

I believe the Corp of Engineers are adding sand to the beach and have it shut down right now.

You may want to check on this before planning a trip.

The comment on a cheap combo is true. Believe it or not my uglystik combo was the only reel that I didnt have to lube up here recently after a trip and sitting them up. The cheapest one worked and lasted and the best, my expensive one I had to lube up some.
Anyway I just use a stringer tied to the belt and aside from the occasional sand shark eating a trout off the stringer ( no kidding) This was years ago at Elmers Island you can carry the stringer to wherever you keep your icechest.

I use a 7ft med action castaway rod with a lower end shimano spinning reel. To me the rod make's more of a differance than the reel,so I use good rods's it rare I ever brake one anyways. I like the 7 to 7 1/2 It give's you good casting distance and they tend to have a little flex in them because of the length so if your working soft plastic baits you have a good feel. I like the med action because its soft enough to get a good feel on your bait and has enough back bone to get a good hookset when that cork is way out there. I tend to go with a lighter line to for them spookie big girls.