Do you guys get some 10ft-12ft poles, and cast out, or do you kayak out some small baits, to catch some bigger baits?
I like to net fresh mullet, creeks, bayside, or beachside when they are running. I fish them on Mustad EZ baiter circles, and hopefully get a big ray, jack, or sharpnose. Sometimes I just get bluefish, and depending upon the size I may run one out, or toss one out alive and hope for a cuda, or chunk them up and use them for bait and this sometimes gets a giant ray
Best way to catch your own bait is spend time at the beach and figure out what is there, often it changes with the seasons.
Fish live bait if you can get it and work your way up like TunaStick said, or walk the beach casting lures. Over time you will figure out where the bait is