Best baits and lures by fish
Proven natural baits and lures for 73 popular US fish, with one simple tip each. Tap a fish to jump to it.
Aholehole (Hawaiian flagtail)
Natural baitShrimp, small pieces of squid, bread dough
LuresSmall flies and tiny jigs at night
Night fish of rocky shorelines and stream mouths; very light tackle.
American shad
Natural baitRarely on bait
LuresShad darts and small flutter spoons on light line
Spring spawning runs in rivers - fish current seams just below dams and riffles.
Atlantic cod
Natural baitClams, sea clams, squid strips
LuresDiamond jigs with a teaser fly above
Fish rocky bottom in cold water. Strict rules - many areas are catch-and-release or closed; check before you keep one.
Caught at our spots in: Maine
Bigeye scad (akule, halalu)
Natural baitSmall pieces of shrimp or squid, chum
LuresSabiki rigs and small jigs, often at night under lights
Schools move into harbors and bays seasonally - fish sabikis at dusk and after dark.
Black drum
Natural baitFresh blue crab pieces, clams, cut mullet, shrimp
LuresRarely on lures - natural bait on the bottom is best
Fish channels, bridges and jetties; big black drum often feed in early spring.
Caught at our spots in: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia
Black sea bass
Natural baitSquid strips, clams, cut fish
LuresSmall jigs and bucktails
Fish wrecks, reefs and rocky bottom; check seasons and limits.
Caught at our spots in: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia
Blacktip shark
Natural baitFresh cut bait: mullet, ladyfish, bonito chunks
LuresRarely on lures - bait is best
Use a wire leader and circle hooks; release sharks in the water quickly. Check which species you may keep.
Bluefish
Natural baitCut bunker (menhaden), mullet, finger mullet
LuresMetal spoons, poppers, diamond jigs
Use a wire leader - bluefish teeth cut line easily.
Caught at our spots in: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island
Bluegill and sunfish
Natural baitWorms, crickets, mealworms on a small hook
LuresTiny jigs, small spinners, poppers
Perfect for kids - shallow weedy edges in late spring and summer.
Bluestripe snapper (taape)
Natural baitCut squid, cut fish
LuresSmall jigs
An introduced snapper common around reefs and harbors; fine to keep.
Bonefish (oio)
Natural baitLive shrimp, crab
LuresSmall weighted flies and light jigs (pink, tan)
Sight fish on clear flats on rising tide; stealth matters most.
Caught at our spots in: Florida, Hawaii
Brook trout
Natural baitWorms, small spinners baits, salmon eggs
LuresSmall spinners, tiny spoons, dry flies
Cold, clear water - mountain lakes and streams.
Brown and tiger trout
Natural baitNightcrawlers
LuresMinnow-imitating crankbaits and spoons
Low light and cooler water; bigger browns often feed at night.
Caught at our spots in: Washington
Cabezon
Natural baitCrab, squid, shrimp, small fish
LuresSmall swimbaits and jigs bounced through rocks
Rocky shore and jetty fish. The eggs are toxic - never eat the roe. Seasons apply.
California corbina
Natural baitSand crabs, ghost shrimp, bloodworms
LuresVery rarely on lures
Sight-fish the wash zone in summer; light line and a small hook. Corbina cannot be caught on boats (shore only in CA).
Caught at our spots in: California
California yellowtail
Natural baitLive sardines, live squid
LuresIron jigs (yo-yo), surface irons, swimbaits
Fish kelp edges and offshore structure; stop it fast before it runs you into the kelp.
Channel catfish
Natural baitNightcrawlers, chicken liver, cut bait, stink bait
LuresRarely on lures
Fish the bottom at dusk and after dark, especially after rain.
Caught at our spots in: Delaware, Maryland
Cobia
Natural baitLive eels, crabs, large baitfish
LuresBig bucktail jigs and large soft plastics
Sight fish around buoys, rays and turtles in spring; check size limits.
Caught at our spots in: Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia
Crappie
Natural baitSmall live minnows under a float
Lures1/16 oz jigs and small tubes
Find brush piles and docks; once you catch one, there are usually more.
Caught at our spots in: Washington
Cutthroat trout
Natural baitWorms, small minnows where legal
LuresSmall spinners and flies
Many waters are selective gear or catch-and-release - check rules.
Caught at our spots in: WashingtonFalse albacore
Natural baitLive peanut bunker or spearing (bait is rare)
LuresSmall metal epoxy jigs, tins and flies retrieved very fast
Run-and-gun to breaking fish in fall; match the tiny baitfish. Incredible speed - keep your drag smooth.
Caught at our spots in: Massachusetts, New York
Flounder
Natural baitLive mud minnows, finger mullet, live shrimp
LuresBucktail jigs and soft plastics hopped slowly on the bottom
Fish the edges of channels and drop-offs on falling tide; wait a moment before setting the hook.
Caught at our spots in: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington
Fluke (summer flounder)
Natural baitSquid strips, killifish (mummichogs), spearing, fresh fish strips
LuresBucktails tipped with Gulp or squid, drifted along the bottom
Drift over sandy bottom and channel edges; bigger baits for bigger fish.
Caught at our spots in: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island
Gag grouper
Natural baitLive pinfish, pigfish, grunts and cut bait on the bottom
LuresHeavy bucktail jigs, deep-diving plugs trolled over rock
Fish hard bottom and ledges; pull hard the moment it bites or it will reach the rocks. Seasons and size limits are strict.
Caught at our spots in: Florida
Goatfish (weke, moano, kumu)
Natural baitShrimp, small pieces of squid or tako on small hooks
LuresSmall jigs and soft plastics on the sand
Sandy patches near reef at dawn and dusk; light line and small hooks.
Caught at our spots in: Hawaii
Gray triggerfish
Natural baitSmall pieces of squid, cut shrimp or clam on small strong hooks
LuresSmall jigs tipped with squid
Small, strong hooks - triggerfish steal bait. Fish near reefs, wrecks and jetty ends.
Great barracuda
Natural baitLive baitfish, cut ballyhoo
LuresTube lures, long silver spoons, topwater plugs retrieved fast
Use a wire leader - teeth cut line. Big ones can carry ciguatera; most anglers release them.
Caught at our spots in: Florida
Halibut (California and Pacific)
Natural baitCalifornia halibut: live anchovies, sardines, smelt. Pacific halibut (Washington): herring, octopus, salmon bellies
LuresSwimbaits and soft plastics bounced on the bottom; heavy jigs for Pacific halibut
California halibut: sandy bottom near bays and piers. Pacific halibut: deep water, short seasons - check dates and limits.
Caught at our spots in: California, Washington
Hardhead catfish
Natural baitCut shrimp, squid, cut fish
LuresSmall jigs fished on the bottom
Handle with care - the fin spines are venomous. Common almost everywhere in warm bays.
Jacks and trevally
Natural baitLive baitfish, cut bait
LuresPoppers, spoons, metal jigs, swimbaits
Fast, aggressive fish - retrieve quickly. Ulua (giant trevally) need heavy tackle.
Caught at our spots in: Florida, Hawaii
Kelp (calico) and sand bass
Natural baitLive anchovies, squid
LuresSwimbaits and plastics
Fish kelp edges and structure early in the day.
Caught at our spots in: California
Kelp greenling
Natural baitShrimp, sand worms, squid strips
LuresSmall jigs and grubs along rocks and kelp
A colorful rockfish cousin of jetties and rocky shores in the Northwest.
King mackerel (kingfish)
Natural baitLive blue runners, menhaden, cigar minnows
LuresLarge spoons and trolled plugs
Fish from pier ends or offshore with a wire leader and stinger hook.
Caught at our spots in: Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas
Kokanee
Natural baitCorn or maggots on a small hook
LuresSmall trolled spinners or wedding rings behind a dodger
Troll slowly at the depth where fish show on a fish finder; use a soft rod.
Caught at our spots in: Washington
Ladyfish
Natural baitLive or fresh shrimp, small baitfish
LuresSmall jigs, spoons and topwater plugs
Fast, jumping fish around channels and passes - great fun on light tackle and good cut bait.
Largemouth bass
Natural baitLive nightcrawlers, minnows
LuresSoft plastic worms, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, topwater frogs
Fish weed edges and docks; topwater at dawn in summer.
Caught at our spots in: Washington
Leopard shark
Natural baitSquid, clams, cut sardine or mackerel on the bottom
LuresNot usually caught on lures
Common in bays and harbors in summer; check the size limit and release with care.
Lingcod
Natural baitLive small fish (greenling, rockfish where legal), large cut squid
LuresLarge swimbaits and heavy jigs
Fish rocky structure; check season dates and size limits.
Caught at our spots in: California, Oregon, Washington
Mackerel
Natural baitSmall cut bait, squid
LuresSabiki rigs, small shiny spoons
Easy fish for kids from piers - and good bait for bigger fish.
Caught at our spots in: California, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire
Mahimahi (dolphinfish)
Natural baitLive or rigged ballyhoo, cut bait near floating debris
LuresTrolled skirted lures, cedar plugs, bucktails
Offshore along weed lines and floating debris - by boat.
Mangrove (gray) snapper
Natural baitLive shrimp, small pilchards, cut squid
LuresSmall jigs
Light fluorocarbon leader and small hooks; chum helps.
Caught at our spots in: Florida
Menpachi (soldierfish)
Natural baitShrimp or squid strips on small hooks, fished at night
LuresRarely on lures
Rocky ledges and caves at night - a classic Hawaiian pole-fishing target.
Caught at our spots in: Hawaii
Moi (Pacific threadfin)
Natural baitShrimp, sand crabs, small pieces of squid
LuresSmall jigs and soft plastics in the surf
Prized surf fish of sandy Hawaiian beaches at dawn and dusk; strict size and closed season (June-August).
Caught at our spots in: Hawaii
Ono (wahoo)
Natural baitRigged ballyhoo trolled fast
LuresHigh-speed trolling lures, cedar plugs
Fast trolling over ledges and drop-offs - by boat, wire leader.
Perch and crappie
Natural baitSmall worms, small minnows
LuresTiny jigs
Find a school and you'll catch many - small hooks and light line.
Caught at our spots in: Washington
Permit
Natural baitLive crabs
LuresCrab flies, small bucktails
Very spooky - quiet approach and accurate casts on the flats.
Caught at our spots in: Florida
Pollock
Natural baitCut mackerel or herring, clams
LuresDiamond jigs, metal jigs, soft-plastic shads
Schools feed mid-water over rock and ledges; fast jigging works well.
Caught at our spots in: Maine
Pompano
Natural baitSand fleas (mole crabs), fresh shrimp, clams
LuresSmall pompano jigs (bright yellow or pink), Fishbites strips
Fish the first trough on a pompano rig; best on cooler, clear-water days with moving tide.
Caught at our spots in: Alabama, Florida, North Carolina
Rainbow trout (stocked)
Natural baitPowerBait, worms, salmon eggs
LuresSmall spinners (Rooster Tail, Panther Martin), spoons, small jigs
Freshly stocked trout cruise near the surface by the launch; fish 2 to 5 feet deep.
Caught at our spots in: Washington
Redfish (red drum)
Natural baitLive or cut mullet, blue crab chunks, live shrimp, cut menhaden
LuresGold weedless spoons, soft plastics on a light jighead, popping cork with a shrimp imitation
Look for tailing fish on shallow flats on a rising tide. Cut bait on the bottom works for big bull reds.
Caught at our spots in: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia
Rockfish (Pacific)
Natural baitSquid strips, cut fish
LuresShrimp flies, small swimbaits, jigs
Rocky reefs and jetties; rules and depth limits vary by month.
Caught at our spots in: California, Oregon, Washington
Salmon
Natural baitHerring (whole or cut plug), salmon eggs in rivers
LuresSpoons, spinners, hoochies behind a flasher
Seasons and rules change often - always check before fishing.
Caught at our spots in: California, Oregon, Washington
Scup (porgy)
Natural baitClam strips, squid, sandworms
LuresSmall jigs tipped with bait
Small hooks on a high-low rig over rocky or shell bottom.
Caught at our spots in: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island
Sheepshead
Natural baitFiddler crabs, live shrimp, barnacles, sand fleas, oysters
LuresSmall jigs tipped with shrimp
Fish tight to pilings and rocks with a short leader; set the hook at the lightest tap.
Caught at our spots in: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia
Smallmouth bass
Natural baitCrayfish, minnows, nightcrawlers
LuresTube jigs, small crankbaits, drop-shot worms, Ned rigs
Rocky points and drop-offs; they fight harder than largemouth pound for pound.
Snook
Natural baitLive pilchards (whitebait), pinfish, mullet and live shrimp
LuresSoft plastic jerkbaits and paddle tails, bucktail jigs, topwater walkers at dawn
Fish moving tide around structure; snook face into the current. Heavier leader (30-40 lb) helps.
Caught at our spots in: Florida, Texas
Spanish mackerel
Natural baitLive glass minnows or small baitfish
LuresSmall shiny spoons (Clark, Gotcha plugs), retrieved fast
Watch for diving birds; use a short wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader.
Caught at our spots in: Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas
Spot and croaker
Natural baitBloodworms, shrimp, squid
LuresTiny bait-tipped jigs
Small hooks on bottom rigs; great family fishing.
Caught at our spots in: Alabama, California, Maryland, Virginia
Spotted seatrout (speckled trout)
Natural baitLive shrimp under a popping cork, live pinfish or croaker
LuresSoft plastic paddle tails, suspending twitchbaits, topwater at first light
Drift grass flats in 3 to 6 feet of water; trout have soft mouths, so play them gently.
Caught at our spots in: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia
Steelhead
Natural baitSalmon eggs (cured roe), sand shrimp, nightcrawlers
LuresSpinners, drift bobbers (Corkies), jigs under a float, plugs
Fish river runs and tailouts in winter and summer runs; many rivers are wild-release only - check the rules.
Caught at our spots in: Oregon
Striped bass
Natural baitLive eels, bunker (menhaden), clams, sandworms, herring in spring
LuresSwimming plugs, bucktails, soft plastic shads, topwater poppers
Dawn, dusk and night on moving tide around rocks, jetties and rips; circle hooks with bait (often required).
Caught at our spots in: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia
Surfperch
Natural baitSand crabs, mussels, sandworms
LuresSmall grubs (Carolina rig)
Fish the troughs between waves on an incoming tide.
Caught at our spots in: California, Oregon, Washington
Tarpon
Natural baitLive crabs, live mullet, pinfish, threadfin herring
LuresLarge swimbaits and soft plastics, big flies for sight fishing
Bow to the fish when it jumps. Circle hooks and heavy leader; release in the water (rules).
Caught at our spots in: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas
Tautog (blackfish)
Natural baitGreen crabs, Asian crabs, clams
LuresTautog jigs tipped with crab
Fish right on the rocks with a short, strong rig - expect snags.
Caught at our spots in: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia
Tiger muskie
Natural baitLarge suckers (where legal)
LuresBig bucktail spinners, jerkbaits, swimbaits
Stocked in some Washington lakes to control trash fish; usually catch-and-release by rule size.
Tripletail
Natural baitLive shrimp under a float
LuresSmall jigs and soft plastics pitched to floating cover
Look for them floating on their side near buoys, crab-trap floats and weed lines - sight-cast gently.
Walleye
Natural baitNightcrawlers on a spinner harness, live minnows
LuresJigs, crankbaits trolled at dusk
Low light is key - dawn, dusk and overcast days along drop-offs.
Caught at our spots in: Washington
Weakfish
Natural baitLive spot, peeler crab, squid strips
LuresSoft plastics, bucktails, small swimming plugs
Night and dawn around channel edges; soft mouth - use a light drag.
Caught at our spots in: New Jersey, New York
White perch
Natural baitGrass shrimp, bloodworms, small minnows
LuresSmall spinners and jigs
Fish rocky points and piers in rivers and the upper bay.
Caught at our spots in: Delaware, Maryland
White seabass
Natural baitLive squid, live sardines or mackerel
LuresLarge swimbaits and iron jigs
Night and dawn around squid spawns and kelp; strict minimum size.
White sturgeon
Natural baitSand shrimp, herring, smelt, lamprey on the bottom
LuresNot caught on lures
Very strict size slots and seasons; many fish must be released without being taken out of the water.
Caught at our spots in: California, Oregon
Whiting (kingfish)
Natural baitFresh shrimp, sand fleas, bloodworms, Fishbites
LuresSmall bait-tipped jigs
Fish the surf trough with small hooks on a two-hook bottom rig.
Caught at our spots in: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina
Winter flounder
Natural baitSandworms, bloodworms, clam bits on small hooks
LuresRarely on lures
Chum with crushed clams or mussels and fish slowly on the bottom in spring as water warms.
Image credits
Fish and bait photos from Wikimedia Commons and US government agencies (NOAA, USFWS), used under the licenses shown. A few bait and lure pictures are AI-generated.
- Albula vulpes - Brian Gratwicke (CC BY 2.0). Resized.
- Alitta virens - Alexander Semenov (CC BY 2.0). Resized.
- American eel - Clinton & Charles Robertson from RAF Lakenheath, UK & San Marcos, TX, USA & UK (CC BY 2.0). Resized.
- American shad - Shermon Foote Denton (Public domain). Resized.
- Archosargus probatocephalus - Wikimedia Commons (Public domain). Resized.
- Artificial fly - Mike Cline (Public domain). Resized.
- Atlantic Spanish mackerel - NOAA (Public domain). Resized.
- Atlantic cod - Wilhelm Thomas Fiege (CC BY-SA 4.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Atlantic croaker - Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (CC BY 2.0). Resized.
- Atlantic mackerel - Mikael Nyman (CC BY 4.0). Resized.
- Atlantic menhaden - Originally en:User:Brian.gratwicke (CC BY 2.5). Resized.
- Atlantic tarpon - This illustration was made by Citron You must credit this : Citron / CC-BY-SA-3. (CC BY-SA 3.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Atlantic tripletail - Unknown authorUnknown author (CC BY-SA 2.5). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Bigeye scad - SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC. (Public domain). Resized.
- Black drum - Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (CC BY 2.0). Resized.
- Blacktip shark - Albert kok (CC BY-SA 4.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Bluefish - Unknown authorUnknown author (Public domain). Resized.
- Bluegill - Paleo1954 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Bluestripe snapper - Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Bobber (fishing) - Geotek (CC BY-SA 3.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Brook trout - Joshpryor (CC BY 4.0). Resized.
- Brown trout - USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain). Resized.
- Cabezon (fish) - Steve Lonhart (SIMoN / MBNMS) (Public domain). Resized.
- California corbina - N1ywb at English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Callinectes sapidus - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Channel catfish - USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain). Resized.
- Cobia - D Ross Robertson (Public domain). Resized.
- Coho salmon - NOAA (Public domain). Resized.
- Common snook - Matthew Hoelscher (CC BY-SA 2.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Crappie - Robert W. Hines, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public domain). Resized.
- Cutthroat trout - Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public domain). Resized.
- Doryteuthis pealeii - Unknown authorUnknown author (Public domain). Resized.
- Elops saurus - SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC (Public domain). Resized.
- Emerita analoga - Woody Thrower, en.wikipedia user: Wthrower (Public domain). Resized.
- European green crab - Hans Hillewaert (CC BY-SA 4.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Fiddler crab - NOAA (Public domain). Resized.
- Amphistichus argenteus 94917951 (cropped).jpg - Andy Kleinhesselink (CC0). Resized.
- Black sea bass (Duane Raver).png - Raver Duane, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public domain). Resized.
- California Halibut OdySea Aquarium.jpg - RatioTile (CC BY-SA 4.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- FMIB 41857 Kingfish (Scomberomorus cavalla Cuvier).jpeg - New York Fish and Game Commission (Public domain). Resized.
- Lingcod closeup.jpg - NOAA Fisheries (Public domain). Resized.
- Florida pompano - Dugmore, A. Radclyffe; Evermann, Barton Warren; Jordan, David Starr (Public domain). Resized.
- Gag grouper - Noaa (Public domain). Resized.
- Giant trevally - Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR (Public domain). Resized.
- Glycera dibranchiata - Eric A. Lazo-Wasem (CC0). Resized.
- Gray triggerfish - Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Great barracuda - Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Hardhead catfish - Edgar R. Waite (Public domain). Resized.
- Kelp bass - Steve Lonhart/MBNMS (Public domain). Resized.
- Kelp greenling - Steve Lonhart (SIMoN / MBNMS) (Public domain). Resized.
- Kuhlia sandvicensis - National Park Service photo - Bryan Harry (Public domain). Resized.
- Largemouth bass - USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain). Resized.
- Leopard shark - Mfield, Matthew Field, www.photography.mattfield.com (CC BY-SA 3.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Lumbricus terrestris - Michael Linnenbach (CC BY-SA 3.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Lutjanus griseus - Clinton & Charles Robertson from Del Rio, Texas & San Marcos, TX, USA (CC BY 2.0). Resized.
- Mahi-mahi - gendereuphorbia (CC0). Resized.
- Menticirrhus - SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC (Public domain). Resized.
- Mercenaria mercenaria - Ken Hammond (Public domain). Resized.
- Mugil cephalus - Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Mummichog - NOAA (Public domain). Resized.
- Myripristis berndti - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.5). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Northern anchovy - Wikimedia Commons (Public domain). Resized.
- Oncorhynchus nerka - Milton Love, Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, (Public domain). Resized.
- Pacific herring - AnonymousUnknown author (Public domain). Resized.
- Paralichthys lethostigma - SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC (Public domain). Resized.
- Permit (fish) - Brian.gratwicke (CC BY 3.0). Resized.
- Pinfish - ShroomJunk (CC BY 4.0). Resized.
- Plug (fishing) - E_tac (talk) (Uploads) (Public domain). Resized.
- Pollachius virens - Tino Strauss (CC BY-SA 3.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Polydactylus sexfilis - NNPS photo - Bryan Harry (Public domain). Resized.
- Rainbow trout - Engbretson Eric, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public domain). Resized.
- Rainbow trout - Engbretson Eric, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public domain). Resized.
- Red drum - Noaa (Public domain). Resized.
- Scup - Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (CC BY 2.0). Resized.
- Sebastes - V. O'Connell, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Image ID: nur00516 (Public domain). Resized.
- Seriola lalandi - brian gratwicke (CC BY 2.0). Resized.
- Smallmouth bass - USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain). Resized.
- Spoon lure - Hubert Derus (CC BY 2.5). Resized.
- Spotted seatrout - Raver Duane, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public domain). Resized.
- Striped bass - D Ross Robertson (Public domain). Resized.
- Summer flounder - Arturodomiao (CC BY-SA 4.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Tautog - no rights reserved (CC0). Resized.
- Tiger muskellunge - Raver Duane, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public domain). Resized.
- Topwater fishing lure - Stalane (CC BY-SA 3.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Wahoo - Unknown authorUnknown author (Public domain). Resized.
- Walleye - USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain). Resized.
- Weakfish - SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC (Public domain). Resized.
- White perch - Cephas (CC BY-SA 3.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- White seabass - Wikimedia Commons (Public domain). Resized.
- White sturgeon - Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (CC BY-SA 2.0). Resized; our resized copy is shared under the same license.
- Winter flounder - Wikimedia Commons (Public domain). Resized.
- Yellow perch - USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain). Resized.
- Yellowfin goatfish - (c) João D'Andretta, some rights reserved (CC BY) (CC BY 4.0). Resized.
Baits and lures that work can change with the season, water clarity and local conditions - a local bait shop is always worth a stop. Some baits (live fish, certain species) are restricted in some waters, so check the official rules for where you fish.