What you have should be just fine for the fishing that you are doing, a casting reel is best for casting small lures like you do in bass fishing because of their pinpoint accuracy but for inshore saltwater fishing you have no need for anything else but what you already have.

I found this knot and I thought might be interesting I hope you like it.

https://www.knotsforfishing.com/knot-strength-chart/

Buy a good reel first and then you can buy a cheap but decent rod but the Black Max Combo is just cash money down the drain.

lews speed spool fs baitcast reel

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/lews-speed-spool-lfs-baitcast-reel $99.00

With a casting reel you need to keep your thumb on the spool on every cast until your bait land on the water and only then do you switch hands. I am right handed and I cast with my right hand and reel with my left hand and so I use a left handed reel or so the reel companies call them?

Just like Musky Hunter says it will darken the cork just a bit so do not expect miracles. If you use it just put on one thin coat and let it soak into the cork while it turns on a rod dryer and do not wipe the sealer off. You should let it dry at for at least 12 hours before using the rod. I only us one coat of cork sealer on a handle because in the past I have had bad luck with U-40 cork sealer peeling off of the handles that had more then one coat on them but just one coat has always worked fine but again it will darken the cork just a bit so do not expect a miracle.

Shimano curado new or used you cant go wrong.

I thought that might know the boat but you where fishing the SF Bay and San Pablo Bay system just a bit to far out of the north delta and Suisun Bay.

What was the name on your charter boat Jim I grew up your town and in Brentwood and Disco Bay.

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What was the name on your charter boat Jim I grew up your town and in Brentwood and Disco Bay.

Palomar is easy to tie and strong.

When I was living in Calif the law was that you had to have your license on you at all times so that the FG could see it and so I picked up one of those plastic pin on name tag holders at Staples and just pinned it on my shirt so that it was showing at all times.

12volt 70 lb should to just fine and step up would take you into a 24 volt 105 lb setup. $$$

Shaft 56" or longer the motor should be about 2 to 4 inches below the boat but 2" should be fine.

I have caught a lot of catfish in clear late on a 5.6 med spinning rod 10lb mono and a 1/8 crappie jigs in catfish spawn its a blast.

In Oregon a fishing is just a piece of printed paper not a good idea to put it in your wallet so I just keep mine in a closes jar in my boat and you will never get caught without it.