Once I learned how to pitch I stopped bringing a spinning rod with me on shore bound fishing trips.

Squarebill crankbaits are another good option to have with you, too, but I think that Texas rigged plastics (with or without a weight) is the best method for shore fishing - IMHO.

 

More excellent advice.    A squarebill is my first choice in crankbaits since I am usually fishing shallow water.  Plastics hooked up weedless work great from most shores where weeds are the norm.

 

Haven't pitched on the water yet, but need to start practicing this cast in fishing situations.  Last night I was fishing an area of the river where a couple years ago a spinning rod would have been the only tool I could have used.  Underhand casts keep the lure out of the overhanging trees.  Well, except for one time when I got careless.  Thankfully I had a spinnerbait on so the lure wasn't lost. 

Haven't pitched on the water yet, but need to start practicing this cast in fishing situations:

I throw a frisbee in the front yard, take 20 paces back, and work on hitting the target. That's the best way to practice I've found.

I like using the jig n pig on my baitcaster from shore. I do need to use my other bait

casters for spinnerbaits soon too. I got stuck in a rut on using my spinning equipment more. I think using a baitcaster gives our lure a more even speed.

With any type of reel using lures make sure we make a perfect circle with our hand on the cranks. If we don't the lure will go fast and slow.