Float fishing sand eels

[martin56]

Hi you sea dogs - I'm off to Fuerta Ventura new year & being more a freshwater man would like some sea fishing advice (i only sea fish when on holiday abroad)
I'm thinking of float fishing sand eels, wobbling, spinning them but a bit wary of catching another sting ray (in MEXICO) which STUCK me in my hand & it hurt like hell & thought i was going to die when the excruciating pain shot up my arm & lasted 3-4 days.
It was only size not much > than a saucer but the spike pentrated @ least 2"
(also cost me around £80 for treatment by the hotel medic - the pain killing injections were heaven though)
Anyway - what depth would be a good start to fish a STATIC sand eel bait ??
(i reckon 3 feet off bottom should avoid RAYS) ??
Taking some plugs/ spinners & jelly shads.
Please, any other help would be greatly appreciated.
P.S. Just won a nice looking MITCHELL 386 salt water fixed spool off ebay.
What colour / brand & BS line ?? using an 11' shakespeare tele' beach rod.