If you're fishing from a boat a vertical presentation would be easier to maintain with a lot less weight needed to fish around the structure. Either a dropper rig or a heavier jig head with tail kept one to two cranks off the bottom would work.
Now if your fishing from a fixed position on a bridge or seawall, that could be more challenging because snags are going to cost you lots of tackle because of added weight needed to reach the bottom. Try using a slip float rig where the float can be set at any desired depth to keep your bait above the snags. Just cast up current and let the rig drift back then repeat; I've used this tactic and it works.
"Don't be a Googan!"