I think you are probably just going to make it harder! I have only been boat fishing regularly for the last year or so but we are now starting to catch our targets more regularly and usually end up with a feed. Thats partly down to advice on here and from the tackle stores, but mainly from time on the water sounding out ground. If you aren't catching many fish on bait I don't think plastic or jigs will miraculously change that. What sort of bait do you use? We pretty much only use quality skinned occy now. I think it makes a noticeable difference. Anyway even if you go out and catch bugger all, its better than sitting at home watching tv. :)

 Plastics are like lures ,they catch more fisherman than fish.Having said that i use a combo of both after all the object is to catch fish so why limit yourself to only 1 style.Also depends on depths being fished etc.Best baits squid ,occy and mulies,favourite plastic good old nuclear chook.Keep doing the hard yards and sound up as much ground as you can ,use your charts and you will eventually find good ground.Shit if it was easy it would be called catching not fishing,good luck.

 I cant add much more to the first two replies. They are spot on. Only other thing i can say is that if you are chasing Dhufish - a fresh fillet of wrasse is hard to beat. 

get em on bait 1st, then go into the rest, seen ppl using combinnation bait and plastics on same rigs