Mealworms

• A bluegill rarely passes on the chance to chow down on "live bait," such as mealworm. Mealworms, the larva of beetles, have proved to be a successful bait to catch panfish such as a bluegill, crappie and white suckers. Mealworms can be located within most bait and tackle shops throughout Florida. Many Florida anglers fish mealworms with a small bobber and two tiny split-shots, while letting their fishing lines drift over submerged logs, plants or deep drops-offs. Anglers place two to four mealworms onto a size 4 hook, and the cluster of mealworms on a hook makes for an inviting target panfish cannot resist.
  
  

Shiners

• Shiners, whether golden or silver, are popular bait when pursuing big fish in Florida. Shiners normally range 3 to 6 inches in length; these fish are especially good when going after largemouth bass, according to the website Reel Reports. Additionally, shiners can be fished in both fresh water and saltwater. Saltwater anglers use shiners to catch muttonfish, red drum and striped bass, according to the Vista Florida website. The proper way to hook a shiner is through the back of its dorsal fin.
  
  

Fathead Minnows

• Fathead minnows yield results when fished with a single hook, no weight, and in a light current. Fathead's minnows can catch fish such as crappie, bass and catfish. A fathead wiggling on the end of a hook, and thrown within a light current, can deliver a hard strike. Trolling a fathead minnow 3 to 5 inches long behind a vessel will garner strikes as the bait passes the vicinity of a predator fish.
  
  

Crayfish

• Crayfish is a source of food for many fish. Crayfish naturally live within Florida lakes, rivers and ponds. This freshwater crustacean makes up the diets of several species of fish such as catfish, bass and chain pickerel. If you intend to use crayfish as bait, hook the crayfish in the back of its tail and cast your line, near large rocks or foliage.
  
  

Night Crawlers

• A night crawler is probably the most available bait found in Florida. Night Crawlers are not hard to maintain; most stores refrigerate and sell night crawlers by the dozens, within small containers filled with dirt. When fishing in Florida, you can never go wrong using a night crawler, as this bait appeals to all species of fish, from panfish to large bass.
  
  

Saltwater Baits

• If you are into saltwater fishing, you know saltwater fish go after an entirely different style of bait than freshwater fish. Florida has many types of baits such as crabs, clams, shrimp, squid and bloodworms, which capture the attention of saltwater fish. Cod enjoy eating sea clams and many stores supply 4-lb. tubs filled with clams for anglers. Crab and squid are lethal when fished in deep water, especial after red drum. Many saltwater fish, such as sea bass, prefer shrimp. Bloodworms are popular bait sold commercially in Florida. A bloodworm is similar to a night crawler, and fished typical the same way as a night crawler in freshwater. Saltwater fish species like croakers, flounders, and Spanish mackerel attack a bloodworm, if in their vicinity.