pogey/shad look a like bait
 

I have been a couple of times and seen huge numbers of either shad, or pogeys. To me, they are shad, I don't know if that's the same thing as a pogey? Anyway, when I see that, I always see fish bustin on em, and while I manage to catch a few, it's pretty hard to get a hook up with the baits I'm using. then I cast net a few of em, and try that, but still don't catch all that well.

Anyone got a go to bait in this situation that mimicks these little fish and seems to work good?

Mirrodine? Opening night color Dudley bay chovey?

Could be glass minnows you're seeing.

Too much bait can be as bad as no bait...won't matter what you're throwing

A suspending chrome rattletrap works for me when that happens. Rip it and let it sit a few seconds. The school of bait keeps moving and your bait is still sitting still and they can close in on it better.

Shad / Pogey = same little silver color thin fish. In the spring they are small [1/2 to 3/4 inch long]. By summer they are usually 1+ inches. They will grow up to 4 or 5+ inches.

Are you using a jig head or bare hook? If you are not getting any bites with a jig head.....try a small bare hook and a small split-shot about 18" up from the hook. This will allow the bait to swim better, and look more natural. If you see your bait come up to the surface......get ready something is chasing it.

both jig head, and sometimes a kale hook. Might just be that there is so much bait it's hard to get em to bite the one on a hook. might try that rattle trap idea, never used em inshore before.