Hello, I've never been fishing before and would like to get into coastal fishing as I'm on the coast. I bought an ugly stik gx2 6'6" rod and some 8lb mono and a small basic beginner tackle box. From my research I know this isn't a typical shoreline rod but I wanted a rod that would be a good all rounder, from coastal to lakes etc.

Questions:

Can I still fish from the beach with a 6,6 rod or would I need to invest In a kayak or small boat of some sort to get further out?

Can I use prawns as bait? I've seen some people using them and wondered if they would be useful on UK species. I'm thinking prawns because I'm lazy and don't know where a tackle shop is to buy bait and I could buy frozen prawns from the supermarket.

How do I get over the fear of starting? I have all the basic gear and have watched a few videos and tutorials. I'm eager to just get out and give it ago. But how do I get over the fear of looking stupid to other fisherman who know what they're doing? I'm also nervous about people being friendly and coming over and asking if I've caught something for me to not have or them seeing that I'm just a poser and know nothing about anything.

Any help or comment would be greatly appreciated :) thanks