The problem with barbless in the surf is it can be difficult to keep steady presure on the fish with the surf pushing the fish forwardard then helping to pull the fish back as opposed to a river which only pulls a fish in one direction. Circle hooks have a low fatality ratio in conparison to traditional hooks and the fish stay on pretty well. That's what I generealy use in surf.

Sounds like you ran in to Mad Max out there on the road. It could have been worse though. You could have ran in to him on the beach.
Better luck next time and I'll see you on the water.

JErryG