Here's my 2 bobs worth:
Lively Lure's Fat'R's skipping popper. #1 was the black/gold model, followed by Green/chartreuse, then pink. I suspect the 'silhouette' of the black/gold gives the longies a solid target to pin over the brighter colours.
Wind them quick. Make them bounce off the water to simulate gar/flying fish.
These work well on scattered fish and schooled up longies.
The strikes are knee knockers!
Other skipping poppers around 12-15cm will work. The Cordell Pencil Popper is another great longie lure though I'd use a Fat'R's anyday of the week.
Be thoughtful of line management........to get the lure to 'bounce' off wave to wave,the rod tip need to be high and slack line DOES occur and loose wraps of line will cause a major tangle if left unchecked........let the line out between schools to repack and you will have less issues.
I've yet to do much with sinking stick baits, though I have friends that clean up on Daiwa Overthere's and similar lures that run just under the water. The speed of retrieve seems far less frantic compared to the skipping poppers.
Run any lure across the front edge of the school if they are feeding in a general direction.
If its a meelee of froth and carnage, pull the lure through the school.
I won't go into boat handling/moon phases or leader types since it's already been covered.
Cheers,
Aaron.
