Gotcha plug and vertical jig pier question

[dls0680]

How do you work a gotcha plug for Macks? I had one this weekend silver with orange head and I would cast out and retrieve back fast but I ended up loosing it in the rocks because I got distracted when I casted out. Do you just jig it at the pier up and down or cast and retrieve like I was doing? Also do people use vertical jigs on the pier and if so what do you catch with them? I saw a few people catch Macks this weekend but not many and the ones I saw catching were using a float with what looked like a few feet of leader under and live greenbacks.   

I tried just casting out live greenbacks with no float or anything and also the same with live shrimp. Just about a 4 foot flouro leader and a number 1 hook but no luck for me.

[tears143]

For the gotcha, I like to work it fast and then pause and work it again. Most of the strike will happen on the pause.

You are doing it correctly. Sometime you just need to be in the right place at the right time. Float is just another form of free line that is easier and keep the bait down lower when there's wind. Freelining with more than 1 rod is hard to do but with float is easier.