Want to know the best bait for surf fishing?

There are many options, but some are better for certain applications. Knowledge is power, and knowing when to fish each bait for what fish is critical.

A common fishing adage is “match the hatch”. Using natural bait that fish are already feeding on is a great strategy to improve your odds.

The great part about many best surf fishing baits is they can be found at the beach! No purchase necessary.

When collecting your own surf fishing bait, ensure you follow all local regulations.

*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.

1. Live Shrimp

Live shrimp is the all-around best bait for surf fishing. Shrimp are a natural food source for most saltwater surf fish species, making them an effective bait. When trying to maximize quantity of fish caught, you can’t go wrong with live shrimp.

How to Fish With Live Shrimp

Shrimp can be fished on a variety of surf fishing rigs or free-lined. Hook live shrimp through the head, just underneath the horn. Be sure to avoid the brain (pea-sized black dot inside the head).

One downside of live shrimp for bait is just how much everything in the ocean likes them. You will lose tons of live shrimp to crabs and small fish trying to get a quick snack. Also, live shrimp tend to come off the hook more easily than other baits when bounced around in the surf. Check your bait more often when fishing with live shrimp so you aren’t wasting time with a bait-less hook.

How to Keep Shrimp Alive

It is important to keep shrimp alive because most fish species strongly prefer live shrimp to dead. The best way is in a 5-gallon bucket with an aerator.

To keep live shrimp alive:

• Keep the water clean . Change water if it gets dirty.
• Keep the water aerated. A battery powered aerator is the best way
• Keep the water cool. Put the bait bucket in shade if possible.
• Do NOT put your hands in the water with sunscreen on. Use a dip net. Sunscreen can kill shrimp fairly quickly.

Boats will usually have a built-in bait livewell that recirculates the water. Surf anglers usually need to haul a 5 gallon bucket to their fishing location.

2. Cut Bait

Cut bait is cut up pieces of other fish used as bait. It can be very effective, but not all saltwater species will bite on cut bait. Cut bait is the most popular surf fishing bait for targeting bull reds, sharks, and tarpon. Flounder and speckled trout don’t strike cut bait nearly as often as other baits like live shrimp.

Common cut bait are mullet, ladyfish, sand trout, pinfish and menhaden. If the cut bait is small enough, you can use the whole fish. If the whole fish is too big to be bait sized, cut it into thirds (or smaller if needed). Cut bait pieces should be able to fit into the mouth of your target species. Generally around 2 inches is a good size.

We caught this ladyfish while live shrimp fishing on knocker rigs. It is perfect size to use as cut bait (cut up into 2 inch sections of course).

Pro Tip: If you catch by-catch that would make good cut bait, freeze it and save it for next time!

How to Fish With Cut Bait

Cut bait is a great bait to cast out and leave sit. Cut bait tends to stay on the hook much better than other baits so you can cast it out there and wait for a big bull red or shark to start ripping line off your reel!

When hooking cut bait, ensure the hook tip and barb are exposed. If they aren’t, you won’t be able to get a good hook set on your target fish.

3. Mullet

Mullet are a popular live or cut bait option. The most common mullet in the United States is the striped mullet that live in coastal across the lower 48. They are frequently stocked in local bait shops live or frozen in various sizes. They are an oily fish that many predatory species love to snack on.

Adult striped mullet can grow to a length of up to 19.5 inches (Texas Parks and Wildlife) which is a bit big for use as bait. Fortunately, bait shops tend to sell 3 to 6 inch juvenile mullet, called finger mullet, that are a better size for use as live bait. Larger mullet should be cut up for use as cut bait.

Mullet don’t have to be on the end of your line to be useful bait! You can find large schools, or rafts, of mullet in bays and passes. Bull reds, sharks, and speckled trout will post up on these schools of mullet for an easy snack. You can identify a feeding frenzy if the mullet are jumping out of the water because they are trying to escape a predator.

How to Fish with Mullet

Large mullet should be cut into 2 inch sections and used as cut bait. Finger mullet can be hooked up through the lips or between the dorsal fin (top fin) and tail fin to allow them to freely swim around.

Just like with live shrimp, live mullet can be kept in an aerated bait bucket to keep them fresh.

4. Crabs

Crabs are a great surf fishing bait for redfish, big black drum, sheepshead, tarpon, permit, pompano, snook and cobia. The two most common types of crabs used for surf fishing bait are blue crabs and fiddler crabs.

Most crabs used for bait are relatively hardy and survive well in a bucket without too much attention.

How to Fish with Blue Crabs

Adult blue crabs are native to the Atlantic coast, live in the water, and can grow to 9 inches wide and 4 inches long when fully grown. They can be bought as bait, caught in crab traps, or dip netted.

Blue crabs can be fished whole, or in halves or quarters depending on their size. When hooking crab for bait, use a hook large enough where the tip and barb are exposed. 2/0 and 3/0 size hooks are good sizes for redfish and black drum.

How to Fish with Fiddler Crabs

Fiddler crabs are found on shorelines and can be caught by herding them into a buried 5-gallon bucket. Fiddler crabs are on the smaller size and are generally fished whole.

2/0 and 3/0 size hooks are good sizes for redfish and black drum. For pompano and sheepshead go a little smaller with a 1/0 .

5. Clams

The juicy meat inside a fresh clam makes for a great surf fishing bait. Look for living clams (closed shell). Split the clam open using a knife, pliers, or by smashing it open.

Hook the meat inside through the darker, firm portion of the clam. Most fish species will happily slurp up a shucked clam.

6. Sand Fleas

Sand fleas, or mole crabs, are a small crustacean that can be found along beaches on all coasts of the lower 48. They live in the area on the beach where the surf washes against the sand. They are up to 1 inch long (depending on your location) and make for a great surf fishing bait.

Sand fleas can be caught using a sand flea rake. When a wave recedes off the beach, look for little bumps in the sand. These are the backs of sand fleas. Just scoop them up and put them in a bucket for fishing bait.

7. Squid

Frozen squid is another common bait sold at bait shops. It comes in small plastic packages. Cut it into sections and rig up on your hook. Tentacles are great to hook at one end and leave the other end floating naturally in the water to attract strikes.

A pro of squid as bait is that the texture of it can stay on the hook better than some other options like shrimp. In general, squid is fished just like cut bait while surf fishing.

Surf Fishing Bait FAQs

Best rod and reel for surf fishing with bait?

The best rod for surf fishing with bait for most people is a 10 to 12 foot surf rod with medium to medium-heavy power and moderate to fast action. This type of rod can cast far enough to reach the current troughs in the surf that fish frequent, and have enough backbone to reel in big surf species. Check out our article on the best surf fishing rods for excellent options.

The best reel for surf fishing with bait is a saltwater spinning reel in the 4000-6500 size range. These reels are large enough to handle big surf fish species and can hold enough line to allow surf anglers to cast as far as the long surf rods will allow. Check out our article on the best surf fishing reels for excellent options.

What is the best time to go surf fishing with bait?

The best time of day to surf fish with bait is the first few hours of the day around dawn or the last hours of the day around dusk. Fish tend to actively feed during these times.

Where to surf fish with bait?

Surf fishing with bait is great off piers, jetties, or the beach. Reading the beach is an important skill to identify underwater structure that might concentrate fish. Casting to troughs and cuts in the surf can greatly increase chances of finding fish.

Do fish bite in rough surf?

Fishing can be great in rough surf. Predatory fish use the swirling surf conditions to eat disoriented bait.

Written By: Andrew Juran

Andrew is a seasoned angler with over 25 years of experience fishing across the United States. He has caught hundreds of fish using various techniques and mentored many in the art of fishing. An advocate for sustainable fishing, Andrew is an active member of the Coastal Conservation Association, an organization committed to marine conservation.

For frequent fishing tips, behind-the-scenes looks, and real-time catches, connect with Andrew on Instagram