First mistake is arriving mid afternoon

maybe certain times that may work if there's a blitz going on but they don't happen often.
I get up at 2:15 and get there by 3 AM so I can fish 3 hours in the dark then try for the breaking fish on top at sunrise.
you might want to find some place where the current swirls and fish the slack tides if you are gonna chunk, fish at night and you won't fight boat wakes.
there is a lot to fishing the canal
good luck