Baits and techniques
Fishing in USA: baits, baitfish and techniques
Live bait is normal on many US waters, but each state decides which baitfish are allowed and where you can take them.
Florida and the Gulf Coast, Great Lakes and the North, West Coast
Guide sections: Learn to fish
LIVE BAITFISHCHECKED 2026-10-23
VARIES BY COUNTRY
Generally allowed, but each state has its own rules. Florida: no black bass or peacock bass as bait, no live goldfish or carp. Michigan: baitfish only in the water where caught, no live carp or goldfish, some waters closed to baitfish. Minnesota: never release bait, change the bait water before you leave. California: depends on the fishing district; the Valley District generally bans fish as bait.
Source: Fla. Admin. Code R. 68A-23.007 Use of Fish for Bait, Cornell LII (Zweitquelle, FWC-Seite gesperrt) (zuletzt geändert 01.07.2000) · Michigan Fishing Regulations, Lawful Fishing Methods (eRegulations, Ausgabe der Michigan DNR) (Last Updated: May 9, 2025) · Michigan Fishing Regulations, Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus Regulations (eRegulations, Ausgabe der Michigan DNR) (Last Updated: May 13, 2025) · Minnesota Fishing Regulations, Aquatic Invasive Species (eRegulations, Ausgabe der Minnesota DNR) (kein Datum auf der Seite, abgerufen 23.10.2026) · CDFW-Kolumne California Outdoors: Making sense of bait regulations (Lake County News) (04.03.2018, bezieht sich auf die Regeln 2017 bis 2018)
Lures
- Largemouth bass: soft plastic worms on a Texas rig, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwater, early and late in summer.
- Crappie: small jigs under a bobber or around timber, in shallow water in spring.
- Walleye on the Great Lakes and up north: jigs with soft plastics, crankbaits for trolling, ice jigs in winter.
- Redfish, snook and seatrout in Florida: soft plastic shrimp, paddle tails on jig heads, topwater on the flats.
- King salmon on the West Coast: spoons, spinners and trolling lures during the spawning run.
Natural baits
- Nightcrawlers and red worms for perch, walleye and panfish
- Live shrimp and baitfish such as pilchards or pinfish on the Florida coast
- Chicken liver, stink bait and cut bait for catfish
- Live minnows for crappie and walleye where allowed
- Roe and crab for salmon and steelhead, depending on local rules
Dead baitfish
Cut bait from shad or herring is standard for catfish. In Michigan, baitfish you catch yourself, dead or alive, may only be used on the water where they were caught.
More rules
Gulf federal waters: anyone fishing for reef fish with natural bait must use non-stainless steel circle hooks and carry a dehooking device.
Source: 50 CFR § 622.30 Required fishing gear (Gulf reef fish), Cornell LII (Abruf 23.10.2026)
Michigan: buy bait only from licensed dealers, not pet shops; drain livewells and bilges when leaving any water.
Source: Michigan Fishing Regulations, Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus Regulations (eRegulations, Ausgabe der Michigan DNR) (Last Updated: May 13, 2025)
Minnesota: leftover bait goes in the trash; releasing bait or worms is illegal. Harvesting bait from listed infested waters needs special rules.
Source: Minnesota Fishing Regulations, Aquatic Invasive Species (eRegulations, Ausgabe der Minnesota DNR) (kein Datum auf der Seite, abgerufen 23.10.2026)
Michigan: non-native crayfish such as red swamp crayfish may not be used as bait, alive or dead.
Source: Michigan Fishing Regulations, Lawful Fishing Methods (eRegulations, Ausgabe der Michigan DNR) (Last Updated: May 9, 2025)
Techniques
Target species
Lures by species
Quick answers
Can I use live baitfish in the US?
Usually yes, but each state decides which species are allowed and whether you can move them between waters. Check the state rules before you fish.
What do I do with leftover bait after fishing?
Never dump it in the water. Leftover bait goes in the trash, and you swap bait water for water you brought, on shore.
What is the most reliable catfish bait?
Cut shad or herring, liver and stink bait on the bottom. Fresh bait usually outfishes old bait.
Other regions
Rules change and often apply to one country, state or water only. Check the permit for your water before you fish. No guarantee, every rule with its source.