I've been hearing that the bull run has started and I'm trying to get in on some action, with the occasional shark.

Visited the 8 mile road beach in Galveston on 9/26 in the afternoon and tried some surf fishing with frozen shrimp and cut horse mullet. Didn't get much activity, but I'm not sure if it is because I can't find gamefish. The water DID looks a little bit greener than normal.

I had a 7 ft rod with shrimp that I was using to cast into the 1st gut for panfish, and a 10 ft conventional that I attempted, unsuccessfully (still need lots of practice), to cast into the second and third guts. After about 30 mins of letting bait soak, I'd reel in to see the mullet torn up and shrimp gone. I'm not sure if this is due to wave activity or fish. in about 3 hours, all i caught was a small 5 inch whiting on shrimp. The mullet was rigged on a 14/0 circle.

I read and hear about advice that says to look for where the baitfish are, but idk what I am looking for. All i see on the beach are the sandbars and related formations.

Where should I even be casting?

What are optimum conditions I should be looking for when surf fishing? I tried browsing www.swellinfo.com, but I'm having trouble understanding how to read the charts and what is optimum.

Try research....I used it and I can spot a good place on the beach from a mile away now...
Reading the Beach...

Ya, ive watched that exact video many times.

I guess what I'm trying ask is, what could be wrong with my technique? I keep casting into what I think are holes and guts, but I never get any noticeable action.

I've narrowed my flaws down to possibly incorrect bait and/or sub optimal conditions. But i was under the impression that greener than normal water produces more fish. On the day I went, green high tides were all throughout the beaches, but still, nothing.

What usually works for me when I am down on the beach is to fish the incoming tide Good tide movement usually gives you your best chances. For big bull red and sharks, I like to use the biggest live mullet or shad I can catch with a castnet and fish on the bottom with spider surf waits. Its hard for me to describe very well about the best areas to fish. You just have to watch the wave action and where the waves break. I usually just walk out as far as I can but still able to make a long as a cast as possible and go back to the beach , drink beer and wait. Good Luck