Some say numbers are down but I personally have caught more this year, I don't know if I've just refined how i fish for them or I'm just puttinh myself on better spots that hold them. Major bait for me has been a summer craw baby paca craw, not the "tiny" not the full size but the "baby". using a C-Rig and a stand up jig head (xcite hook 5/8th oz). And you can always increase your number of smallies with a zoom green pumpkin purple trick worm on a 3/16th oz spot remover, dip the tails in chartruese - DIP THE TAILS! makes a huge difference.