Hi chris,closest spot from brooklyn that i know of would have to be gunyah.you can get yakkas from there but is more reliable for chopper tailor which[though not as hardy] also make a decent live or butterfly bait.
I prefer to burley with [stale] white bread and fish with a light handline with no.12 longshank and smallest of splitshot.I stay in reasonably close to shore where there's no current and don't fish [*the bait*] deeper than 3-4 meters.
*Always worth throwing your first livie out with a single hook through the mouth while there,aim toward s/e end of gunyah beach and get it out far enough to hit sand.
If however you don't mind travelling then i'd go with "flattyfans" preferred 2nd spot which is west head.