any tips for catching coalfish from the shore

I have caught coalies on mackerel feathers. But would like to know if there are lures or bait to help catch them. Thanks in advance

Coalfish are not particular they will take any bait, lug, crab, rag, squid, sandeel etc and are a pest at times if you are fishing for bass or cod.
For lure fishing use small metal lure or toby spoons with a fast retrieve.
But you are probably going to have to wait until around September before they start to come in close to shore again.

there are coleys everywhere all around the north coast at the moment, loads of them
to get them from the shore the only challenge will be in locating them i.e. they will be shoals of them along the shore in places but you wont know where and when
i suggest working lengths of the shore at high water approaching dusk with a small metal lure. they could pop up anywhere
once located they will be easily caught

Thanks. I have a few metal lures that I have been using last year but I wasn't really sure what I wanted to catch and it wasn't around the time that both of you have said .thanks again

there are coleys everywhere all around the north coast at the moment,

t wasn't around the time that both of you have said

I depends on where you are fishing. On the south coast coalfish usually appear close to shore in September (although depends on weather -if its warm you might have to wait until October) and they stick around until about April, maybe into May if is a cold spring.
Dusk is a good time to get them on lures.
Similarly when bait fishing they begin to show up just as it getting dark (although I have had a few in daylight).

ragworm or fish baits have always proven for me