You can catch bass from shore, under the circumstances you mentioned, if not as
many as from a boat. Here are some things that will help:
1. Fish cover such as lilly pads, weed beds, floating mats of weeds, stumps,
brush piles, fallen trees, etc.
2. Fish are more likely to be in an area with access to deeper water, such as
near a drop-off or creek channel.
(note: these first to things are almost a must for successful shore fishing in
my opinion. I catch next to nothing from areas with large expanses of shallow
water with little or no cover)
3. Fish early morning or late evening, or other low light periods such as
heavy overcast.
4. Fish right before a storm or front hits. The best fishing I have ever had
was on hot muggy afternoons when I could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.
However, once the storm hits, the fishing is over, the fish will move to
deeper water, so run for the car before it hits.
Hope this helps.

-Zimmy