Nathan, don't even think about fishing without rock boots and either watching a rock fishing safety video or go with someone experienced to teach you about waves, sets and lulls. Alex Bellissimo has a good video which is quite informative.
Okay catching yakkas. This time of season i've found they're there but you've got to give them a little encouragement with berley. I only fish for them at night a few hours after sunset or a few hours after sunrise. Generally, i find otherwise, they're a bit hard to come by.
Use a sabiki jig and attach a sinker at the bottom. Use a small float above so fish can grab the hook and give u a chance to strike. Use some berley to attract them. As other people have said, use some prawn, or worm or squid, or even yakka flesh on the hook if you can.
Last week we were living baiting on the stones there. When we opened up the salmon's stomach we found the yakka head first in which was really interesting.
Cheers.