Just a thought. Release the snappers after catching them. Let them grow up to become the gorilla blues that produce those drag screaming runs.

You already have the good sense that anglers need to become proficient with a variety of lures. When bass are feeding on minnows in the shallows, a hard crank bait like a rapala or yozuri can work very well depending on the retrieve. My guess is that you've become skilled at the slow retrieves necessary for soft plastics. Floating minnow shaped plugs often need to be twitched on surface before you start the retrieve. Diving plugs need to be retrieved fast to dig down and then slow the retrieve. Lots of good youtube videos on how to fish hard baits. Be patient. They will work.

The lures you select should be associated with the gamefish you're after (tarpon, snook, jacks, spanish mackeral, bluefish, etc.), the depth of the water, and available forage for gamefish. A 4 oz spoon casts quite a way but it is likely to get hung up on the rocks. It's a good pilchard immitation, but not a great imitation of glass minnows and shrimp! I would suggest talking to some of the tackle shops in the area like the Snook Nook and some skippers like Jonathan Ehrhart to get locations and a better lure choice.

I generally don't use a teaser when fishing a surface plug because of the way the teaser behaves when working the plug. A teaser for swimming plugs works well as it does when fishing bucktails and swimbaits. Tom L

Let's distinguish between swivels and snap swivels. Snaps are used to attach a lure or hook to a leader or running line. They may or may not be attached to a swivel. There are many varieties of snaps: duolok, cross-lock, safety pin, etc. For SW I prefer tactical angler clips when I use a snap. Often I will use a swivel with a leader and attach the lure directly to the leader with a palomar, improved clinch, rapala or perfection loop knot. With respect to swivels see http://georgepoveromo.com/content.php?pid=50.

Fishing with lures that twist like spoons, spinners, rubber worms, etc. make using a swivel a must. Other lures like plugs, bucktails, jigs, etc. require no swivel per se. I often use a leader attached to a running line without a swivel but a snap on the end when fishing the latter types of lures.

Most anglers have gotten away from using a swivel and snap combination.

TomL

Better yet don't disturb a bass when it's bedding. Everyone defines sport in his(her) own way but to my way of thinking. I'd rather the bass reproduce and successfully defend its nest. This is a fish with a good gene pool. Tom

I would check with the tackle stores, particularly TW's and Red Drum Tackle. Focus on finding the fish. There are over 120 miles of surf on the OBX and nothing beats local knowledge as to species, bait, tides, etc.