Live fin bait, live squid (when they are nesting), or if you are gonna use a jig you can pin a few squid to a white Tad 4/0 or Sal (aka pig and jig). I've never caught one on anything other than live bait, fresh dead, and white iron or scrambled egg iron. The iron caught fish were metered clearly and basically a wide open bite unfolded each time. I suggest doing some reading in Capt. Wisch's books or other local sea bass legends to get an idea of what's going on.
You have embarked on a fish journey not many are going to share things with you about. I've told you more than I want and that is the obvious stuff. Maybe you can bring some epic breakfast burritos to the launch and get the skinny from a hungry unfed sea bass killer. FYI, I'd go out hungry..............
