Agree with the above. I've caught pompano, redfish, ladyfish, and one small black-tip shark fishing in the surf with sand fleas. I prefer to catch my own sand fleas as I've never had very good luck with frozen ones because I found them brittle so they didn't seem to say on the hook very well. There is plenty of good info on the web about how to catch sand fleas and how to catch pompano (one of the best tasting fish around).
You can also use shrimp or squid when fishing from the beach. These baits will be attractive to more types of fish than sand fleas. That said, you will lose shrimp far more frequently than sand fleas or squid.
I found a little paperback book called "Fishing the Local Waters" by Jim Hoskins and Chris Phillips very useful when I first moved to this area. It talks about where to fish, what types of fish you can catch in the Gulf and in the bays, and how to catch them (rigs, baits, techniques, etc).
Regarding seaweed, I've not experienced this phenomenon called "June Bloom" as early as April so that shouldn't be an issue during your visit.
Lastly, keep in mind that if you fish from the shore, a bridge, or a private boat/dock you will need a fishing license (obtainable at Wal Mart and bait/tackle stores). Piers and charter boats that charge a fee for fishing have a license that covers the pier/boat.
Hope this helps and good luck.