Hello Chicken Scratch,
I understand your frustrations but the only word of advice is to continue what you are doing! However, after reading your questions carefully - You may want to fish your areas away from the chunkers and concentrate working the late wee hours of the night! Generally when there are chunkers around... the areas is already stagnated with fresh meat scent which will give the plugger the disadvantage. Although chunking is the key to big fish... That's not to say a big swimmer or a well-presented bucktail will not fool that trophy fish.
You got to remember one thing... This is the Fall Run - These fish are on their migration path and they will engulf just about anything that swims their way! Therefore you've got to find their migrating paths and work it hard with your lures!
I fish the South Shores and I know your area well. Work the jetties and deep coves late at night! If you scout the areas during daylight - look for bait and follow their paths to the nearest covers, cuts, jetties and coves. Once you've located them... check your tide chart carefully and your night attack! You will be surprised at the size you catch and be thankful that you've used a lure and not bait!
Also, during the daylight - You want to scout the South shore beaches carefully and you will probably find some blitzing fish. This is the time where you can find explosive top water action with little neck poppers as deep diving tins.
Hopes this helps!
"Crazy" Alberto
