Must be doing something wrong

[AngrySarge]

A few days ago I was on the pier and decided to use a lure to nab spanish makerels that were feeding on the massive school of bait fish swimming near by. There were several of us all doing the same thing, casting out and reelng back with a pumping action or movement of sort. The guy next to me kept bringing in spanish, and I was excited thinking my turn is soon to come. Another guy gets one on the pier throws out and wham landing another one on the pier. I watch my lure comming back in and see the spanish mackerels turning away at the last minute. I try to keep my lure close to the pier as I have heard that they usually do strike near the pier, I watched another guy lowering his lure into the water and giving it a few upward jerks without reeling it in and catching a few spanish mackerels. Anyone got some tips, info that I could maybe to improve myself, or maybe at least land one, and I have been told that waterproof nitro sticks are a "no-go" . All feed back is greatly appreciated.