Ok guys, first thread posted here. We have sank quite a bit of resources and effort into LBSF with minimal, and i mean MINIMAL results. 10-15 trips have resulted in a total of one 5' 1" blacktip and a 49' sandbar.... 
. We fish here on the upper TX coast, where it seems to be pretty dismal fishing in the relm of larger sharks. We usually try to fish based on two things: 1) whenever both me and my buddy are off of work 2) when the water isnt stupid crazy rough or when its green (which is rare here in Galveston).
What do we need to be looking for aside from a rising or falling tide? What moon phases do we need to look at? Do we fish before fronts or after? Or during? We cant just drive up and down the beach like they can down on PINS to look for birds dropping in the water or deviations in the waves hinting at topographal differences in the sandbars. We fish wherever we can and wherever the tourists arent.
What can we look for to improve our odds? Quite honestly weve paid our dues and its time for something to start paying off. Thanks in advance!!
Michael
Tough it out, bro! Sometimes they just don't bite but when they do, it's worth it!!! But help us out a bit more. Are you fishing with surfcasting gear or are you dropping your bait out with kayaks/boats? What bait are you using? Are they fresh or frozen? What time of day do you start and stop fishing?
I fish with both surf cast and paddled baits and the paddled baits have been killing it! I mostly use mullet because it's always available, but I always attempt to put out a variety out there. Ladyfish has been great for me since the bluefish aren't as plentiful right now, but I'm still learning seasonal baits.
Moon: Full is best
Fronts: Fish both before and after, it's the quick environmental change that spurs action
Time of day: Stick it out at least an hour before and after sunset. That's when I get my best runs.
We have been toughing it out...trust me. We started fishing for winter sandbars back in january when the water was coooooold. Yes we yak the baits out, most of the drops make it around 350, some of the others are closer to 550. We have used everything from horse mullet to bonita to stingray to the left overs from blackfin tuna. Some are fresh, others frozen, both have yielded the same results thus far. We always fish from about 4 pm to midnight if not 2-3 am. We use three setups.
1)Penn international vsw 80 on a penn international stand up tuna rod- not sure on the line specs we have on it, its recycled line from the next setup. braid on bottom, mono on top though.
2) avet ewx 50 on a barrett 60-130 shark rod. 100 lb hollow core braid to 100 lb bullbuster monofilament.
3) Fin nor santiago 50w- 500 yards 80 lb powerpro with a 40 turn bimini to a reverse albright of 550 yards of 80lb bullbuster.
I have been using a double hook rig with two circles, my next trip im just going to use one.
My advice is just good old fashioned time on the beach. I know how frustrating that can be, I spent my first year sharking fishing every sat night for one 5ft bullshark. For mepersonally, I've found that 3 days before and after a dead or new moon work the best. Always try running different baits, untill you find a pattern to what baits work at what times, and then adjust from there. Try taping your hooks exposed metal with electrical tape to mask magnetic pulses they send out in salt water if the sharks are shy. I always use 2 hook rigs, but yet again alot of people catch huge sharks with a single hook rig. Neatly rigged baits also help if the sharks Arnt playing the game. However, you may do everything right, but there is no substitute to time with a bait in the water. My team joke of it as 'racking up the hours' like its some sort of game 
that's why when I see a photo of a big shark on the beach, I admire the effort put into LBSF by the angler. So keep up at it, keep running the baits out and doing the little things right, and it will happen! Best of luck let us know how your next trip goes 
I think maybe were using too big of baits for what is here. Down in south texas i know they have big sharks, i havent really heard of anything bigger than 8 feet caught here lately.
As a side note, i was fishing out of the kayak about 400 out for crevalle today and about 8 pm i hooked into a monster, my guess is probably a 6-7 foot shark. For me in the kayak that was WILD.
NICE!!!
And you could be right about the bait size. I went for a stretch of over 6 months without catching anything, so I started keeping a journal of what I was doing and what I would change until something hit. I learned a lot about what I was doing wrong and am slowly learning what to do correctly. The difference is staggering! Here's hoping the same for you, buddy!
The next trip im going to use a single hook leader with a live horse mullet hooked through the eyes. Ive heard they stay alive that way, never done it. Talked to the guy that caught the IGFA world record spotted eagle ray right here in galveston bay last summer and he claims they stay alive for a while like that so maybe i can snag me up a 6 footer or so. Give me a little confidence in the LBSF right now
here is my advice,
you should try putting one bait closer to shore, the big ones have no problem being in close i commonly catch shark 200 yards or even closer
the live mullet sounds like an awesome idea, I frequently use baby jack live, i cut off there tails and they kick and make all sorts of commotion
what are you using leader wise?
another bait to consider is catfish I know it sounds crazy but i have been killing them on catfish lately... just snap off the spines there great
also if you get a depth chart from around the area it can help you find different spots, bridges and inlets/passes are great areas don't count them out
always here for more advice if you need!
one more thing, try the green water nothing wrong with it
Hey Mike! I've been in the same boat as you kind of as far as a lot of trips without much luck. Finally got a sand bar the other day from a pier but it happened to be one of the coldest nights I've been out fishing this year in Florida and also we had like 20mph winds... Definitely terrible conditions as far as wind and temp for here and that location but we still got a run and a footer. Also someone else caught a little 4 footer shortly after I caught mine... Sometimes it's the least favorable conditions and stuff that work...I'd say just go anytime you can and keep trying. I know the weather gets way crazier there in Texas and stuff so I can't compare but still.