a bit of help please

[budget]

hi guys,
a few questions if i can please,i have done a bit of fishing in the past but really am probably the worst fisherman going around so hence the post.
i am really lucky to have yellow fin whiting literally swim straight past my door (twenty feet)and i have been getting a good feed of late with bait but would love to get into lures.
my reasons for this as the wife and i love caravanning and i thought not having to worry about bait all the time would be a huge plus.
so a few questions please i need a good 7' rod,a good lure and some even better advice.
i have a brand new shimano sedona 2500 in the cupboard and need to get a cheap spinning rod to suit.i just want to experiment first up. i have read about the bass day sugar pen hf119 but you just can't buy them ,any other ideas?
i have some 12 pound braid will that surfice?
another question please can someone explain what a leader is and how to set it up?
last but not least, the incoming tide travels right to left and i would like to cast from the left and retrieve to the right coming back against the tide would this be ok?
thanks a lot
paul