Mike,
Every time I get to one of these types of posts, all I can say is "What Mike P said."
Couldn't agree with you more on the 1.5 oz bucktail jigs for most applications (except for the Ditch of course), especially around shore rockpiles with current (e.g., Montauk and most of RI, Squibby and Gay Head, Cutty, etc).
They are just heavy enough to cast and light enough to be carried by current without hanging up on structure.
A sharpie taught me to use these jigs wherever you have a "white water" situation (waves breaking over rocks, or bottom coming up over a ledge). Took some really nice bass over 20 lbs. on 'em too.
I love them so much they are my go-to lures for rockpiles at dusk and daybreak. I pour/tie my own now (gotta get dem extra strong Mustad jig hooks ... hate those Eagle Claw and Gamakatsus).
Basic colors I have are white, yellow, and olive, matched up with red/purple/yellow/black pork rinds.
For some real weird reason, green trailers seem to attract the bluefish.
Oh yeah, on sandy beaches with structure, they ain't too shabby for daytime fluking either (use squid/fish belly strip instead of pork rind).
-WW