welcome to the sight, try using the search function just to the left there for general questions like this. This link below should pretty much answer it all.

http://fishwrecked.com/forum/catching-whiting

Off the beach or out of a boat?

I like the mutu light hooks as they're kind of a circle and the whiting don't swallow it. I use fresh squid tentacles caught by me where possible (A little lasts a long time). Apparently bloodworms are the best but I haven't bothered with them much. Find the right spot in a boat and theres heaps. Just a matter of finding them.

Whiting I find are the most common of my catches when I cant get a hook into something a little bigger, they are literally everywhere.
I suggest you run down to the local K-mart, Big-W or a proper tackle store (bcf, Ray's also) and pick up a Flasher rig also know as a bait chaser rig! or Lotto rig as i like to call them.
cheap as chips and will catch more that just whiting, have seen tailor on it b4 very rare but it happened, also giant and bull hearing, some reason they come off quite practical, usually size 6 or 8 will do the trick and come three hooks on a 1 rig ... prawn is my preference for whiting bait, but they also attack lamb heart, and squid.
Hope this helps catch some of those delicious whiting!

thanks guys muchly appreciated i hope i do better when i go fishing next :)

 get a baitchaser rig as jason mentioned ,small spoon sinker or size to suit conditions,bait with red meat,prawn ,or squid,cast out.let rig hit the bottom,wind in slowly.soon as you get bites from whiting ,wind a little faster while lifting rod,dont strike hard, whitting will usualy hook themselves,anyway goodluck

 Off the boat I'm using a #3 baitholder or an "ultimate whiting hook" - 2 oz sinker and lightest braid you can buy on a 4ft ugly stick. 

 Same as Jason I use shelled prawn

 Anywhere sandy - 15+ metres I reckon - preferably with some current.

Thanks guys, ive just caught 4 whiting on all of your opinions