Lots of smelt lately which is likely what you are seeing. Macs have been holding deep. Here is my bait kit which always travels with me. I've only been skunked once this season with the bait.
Small SS tea ball (chum bucket) that snaps on by the sinker. Stuff it with canned sardines (or cat food) for chum. Dried squid (Ranch 99) to sweeten the hooks. Procure or Uni Goop to supercharge the dried squid.
Macs are cannibals so you may want to sacrifice pieces of the 1st one you catch to sweeten the hooks.
Multiple sabikis (fish skin, tinsel, squid tubes), 'cuz you never know what they want.
And the best chance is to be ON THE BAIT GROUNDS before grey light. I have always had the best luck catching bait at O'dark:30.
And if you can't catch bait, don't fret. Carry some jigs (Rapalas, Flat Falls, etc). No need to deep six a trip because you can't find the live stuff.
