What Bait Should You Use?

This bait will give you a lot of action and it will stay on your line longer than other similar baits. Using squid will keep you occupied all day long. You will catch almost any type of fish with bait but it will mostly produce hardheads (saltwater catfish). Type of fish typically caught are Hardheads (mostly), Gafftop, Whiting, Croaker, Redfish, Black drum, Stingray, small sharks

This bait will keep you busy all day. You will either be taking fish off the hook or adding new bait because shrimp doesn't stay on the hook very well. Shrimp can be used live or dead. Type of fish typically caught with dead shrimp - Hardheads (mostly), Gafftop, Whiting, Croaker, Redfish, Black drum, Stingray, small sharks. Type of fish typically caught with live shrimp - Redfish, Spotted Trout, Lady fish (Skip jack), Flounder, and Hardheads. I like using The Live Bait Rig with shrimp and threading them on the hook. It seems to keep them on the hook longer. 

These little guys are awesome bait. You'll need a special tool to find them. Let me know if you are interested and I'll give you info for a local guy that will hook you up

I highly recommend. Type of fish typically caught with this bait is Hardheads (mostly), Pompano, Whiting, Croaker, Redfish, Stingray, small sharks, Black Drum, Gafftop

Use live or dead. These fall off the hook easy but you will easily get your daily bag limit if the fish are biting on them. Type of fish typically caught with finger mullet Hardheads, Redfish, Trout, bluefish, Lady fish, Flounder

Crabs can be halved or used whole. There are many different methods to use crabs for bait. I use them three different ways. I will pull off all of their legs and throw them in the water for scent. I take off the claws and put them back in the cooler to use separately as bait. I like to break off all of the sharp and pointy parts with pliers. Stick the hook through one of the leg openings and out the bottom of the crab. Using the crab whole works great if small fish are eating the inside of the crab meat before a large fish. You can also cut the crab down the middle and hook the same way. Whole and half crab are great bait for large redfish and black drum. Don't throw away those crab claws! They work awesome for slot reds. Type of fish typically caught with Crab - Redfish, Black Drum, and Scalloped Hammerheads. I have found that The Lightweight Surf Rig​ works great with crab claws. The Surf Rig works great with the crab bodies, whole or halved. 

Cut bait can be any type of fish that is cut up in sections (not used whole). Mullet, Whiting and Croaker are all excellent choices for cut bait. Type of fish typically caught with cut bait (Bodies) - Hardheads, Redfish, Gafftop, Lady fish, and Sharks

I like to cut the head off of Mullet, Whiting and Croaker near the dorsal fin. Leave some meat on there but make sure it's nice and bloody. Put your hook through the bottom of the jaw and out of the top of the head or eye socket. Type of fish typically caught with Fish Heads - Bull Reds, Sharks, Stingray

Use whole Mullet, Whiting or Croaker. Type of fish typically caught with this bait - Bull Reds, Sharks, Stingray

As you can see, hardheads can be caught with just about any bait mentioned above. They are plentiful in the surf and make excellent bait. Use as pictured or whole with the fins clipped off. NOTE: Please make sure that you properly dispose of the heads (and fins). The fins of a hardhead will easily puncture your skin and ruin your fishing trip. These wounds can hurt for a month and cause hospitalization if not properly treated. Also, the fins can pop tires so make sure you do not leave them in the driving path. Type of fish typically caught with Hardheads - Sharks and Redfish (But mostly sharks). I like using a deployment leader or a 6ft Castable Shark Leader with this bait

Other than what is mentioned above Shark Fishermen will also use Black drum, Sheepshead, Pompano, Stingray, Lady Fish, Gafftop, and more.

Baits that are illegal to use Texas. In Texas it is illegal to use game fish as bait. Here is a list of Texas game fish as of 2022: Bass (Alabama, Guadalupe, Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted, Striped, White and Yellow), Catfish (blue, channel and flathead), Cobia, Crappie (Black and White), Mackerel (King and Spanish), Marlin (Blue and White), Pickerel, Red Drum, Sailfish, Seatrout (Spotted), Sharks (all), Snook, Spearfish, Swordfish, Tarpon, Tripletail.