Inshore boat fishing on Galway Bay

Hi folks.
I have been doing some fishing on Galway bay over the past two Summers. My boat isn't too big so have kept it local mostly - north shore between Galway city and Barna for the majority of the time. With calm conditions I have gone accross to Ballyvaughan and Black head.
I have caught loads of mackeral beyond Mutton Island and the Leveret marker and picked up a few nice pollack near the Black Rock marker. Also had a nice Ballan wrasse at the Black rock marker. Beyond that however, I've caught nothing else!
I have tried bottom fishing a few times on the drift using fresh mackeral but have lost tackle many times without so much as a bite!
I have been told that the fishing gets better the further west towards Connemara ya go. Is this true? Or are there other species closer to Galway city? If so, where are they and how do I catch them?!!
Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Howdy first thing don't bottom fish on the drift you want your bait fixed so the fish can follow the scent trail and home in on it and there are too many patches of mixed ground especially at the markers at Sathill and out off Barna hence the tackle loss. There are good clean sandy areas you will pick up on your fish finder. Fish at anchor over sand for ray, dogs, huss, flats, tope plenty of species available between anchoring over sand and drifting over the mixed ground tight lines...

Cheers buddy. I'll definitely give it another go asap. Would love to catch a tope!