Bass Fishing - What am I doing wrong?

Last summer I vowed to lose my Bass virginity and after reading a fair deal / asking questions I set out beach fishing with bait for my first time (I've been a mackerel / pollock fishing for years). I failed to catch anything on 3 outings at a well known Cork Bass spot (White Bay beach).

This summer once again I am determined to catch my first Bass and after a further two blanks (went out this morning) at the same mark I am starting to wonder what I'm doing wrong. I have tried night & day fishing the mark, tried either side of high tide, and either side of low tide.

Each time I have used home made 2 hook paternoster rig (2/0 Kamasan B940s) with a 4 oz grip weight. I'm using an entry level 10 foot beach caster. I have been using black lug (bought frozen) tipped off with mackerel strips.

Couple of questions:
* how important would it be to strike if a Bass was nibbling at the bait or will a Bass usually hook himself? I have found it hard to determine if I have a bite as the rod tip always seems to be moving with the wind / or due to waves crashing against small bits of weed hanging on the line. If a Bass strikes is it very obvious with a big bang on the rod tip?

* should I get a bigger beachcaster (12-14 foot?) to get more distance on my cast?

* often when I reel in the bait is half gone / all gone - could there be fish eating it off the hooks that I am letting get away due to not striking, or is this most likely crabs?

Any tips or advice would be appreciated, I am beginning to become a bit disillusioned with the art of bait fishing.

Hi there. Hope I can try and help.
I would reccommend that you use razorfish and fresh lug worm for your bait. I fish for bass alot when I am down in Co.Kerry and these are the two baits that produce catches for me.
Don't use a grip weight if you can unless the tide is moving quickly, use a bomber weight and just let your bait move with the tide. A fish will notice that and snap at it as if it was a injured fish in the water. Your bait covers more ground this way as well.
If there is a river or stream running into the water on any of the beaches or marks you are fishing from then fish either side of that as bass tend to hang around here looking for smaller baits such as sandeels and crabs that are present.
Don't be casting too far, you should aim to cast into only the third breaker or so out, no further than that. If you cast too far you are passing over them, missing the fish completely. It would surprise you how close in bass come to the water's edge looking for food.
Present your bait well, make it look like a food that they would be used to in the sea. Don't use too much elastic, some is good but too much and your bait looks un-natural in the water and to the fish.
The smellier the bait the better, bass use their sense of smell and so the smellier your bait is the closer the fish will come over to investigate what it is.
I would also reccommend holding your hold instead of putting it up in a rod stand, that way you will feel every bite and can strike instantly for it instead of losing time getting your rod of the stand therefore sometimes missing the fish altogether.
Finally, you will know when you have caught one, believe you me there is a very distinctive bite and movement of the tip of your rod when they are hooked.
Good luck and hope you have success soon.

thanks KERRY1, loads of more fantastic tips I am looking forward to my next session when I'll be armed with all this information.