One of the problems when shore fishing at close to medium range in shallow water is making sure the baited hooks are within the common fish feeding zone. This zone is typically either on or very close to the seabed. Flatfish will rarely move up off the bottom to take a bait that is lifting more than a few inches off the ground. This lift is caused by tide or surf movement, also fishing too tight a line from the rod tip to the rig, especially at short range. Round fish such as bass and coalfish may take food up off the bottom, but still look to take the bulk of their non predatory food on or very close to the seabed. Food swirling around in the water column is a less easy target to hit and uses up a lot of energy. This applies to many other species too.
You can drop your rod tip lower to the ground to reduce the line angle. Alternatively, fish a slack line bow in the line to keep the baits down.
